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GUIDE 



TO THE 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM 



BY THE MANAGER, 

H. DORNER, Ph.D. 
Late of the Hamburg Zoological Garden and Aquarium. 



CHAS. REICHE '& BRO., 

PROPRIETORS. 






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NEW YORK: 

ATHENEUM PUBLISHING HOUSE, 

D. I. CARSON & CO., 

100 Nassau Street. 

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COPYRIGHT. 



i877- 



D. I. CARSON & CO, 






INTRODUCTION. 




Now that 
we have a 
New York 
Aquarium 
where we 
can go and 
lounge and 
study Ic- 
thyology, as Mira- 
beau wished to die 
"to the sound of 
delicious music," 
w e appreciate 
what a boon it is, 
and we have a 
glimmering idea 
that it is an abso- 
lute necessity. 
All successful affairs are 
necessities ; it is only the 
black list of failures that 
shows how many super- 
fluities designing capi- 
talists have endeavored 
to thrust upon society. 
But no one, perhaps, in 
looking at the preserved 
Octopus, or in watching 
the rainbow hues of the 
gold fish tank would 
imagine what a terribly 
arduous undertaking it 
was, this giving to New 



IV 



INTRODUCTION. 



York an institution of instruction and recreation such as she needed. 
When Mr. W. C. Coup and Chas. Reiche & Brother first conceived 
the idea of the Aquarium and came to the point when they decided to 
build it, they knew that a mammoth task was before them. As the 
work progressed, the difficulties encountered convinced them that they 
were not mistaken. These difficulties were as numerous as they were 
unexpected, and it may truthfully be said, that the construction of so 
peculiar an edifice was, in a measure, groping one's way through experi- 
mental fog with the lantern of science. One day it would be that, 
owing to defective glass, the tanks would burst and flood the building 
with water. Then the fish would meet with accidents and die. In one 
clock beat the beautiful results of a two months' vo) T age in tropical seas 
has been rendered useless. Notwithstanding all these discouragements 
they persevered, tying up the thread where it broke, and patiently going 
on, backing their faith with their tank accounts, until the present hand- 
some structure, and the marvellous collection of fishes and animals are 
the combined results. They may well be proud of the work that 
has cost them so much thought and money. So much more capital 
than that originally calculated upon was required for the completion of 
the gigantic undertaking, and for the proper equipment of the edifice, 
that Mr. W. C. Coup resolved to associate with himself in its active 
management the two liberal-hearted gentlemen, Messrs. Chas. and 
Henry Reiche, and from that day, with the additional added capital 
and facilities, the enterprise went ahead as if by magic, and the estab- 
lishment was finally formally thrown open to the public on October 
ioth, 1876. In the association of the Messrs. Reiche, the enterprise 
seemed to obtain all that was required. They brought the facilities of 
their vast business, the years of knowledge and the great experience 
gained in collecting animals and curiosities from all parts of the world. 
To these gentlemen is due the credit of first bringing to this country the 
beautiful and gorgeous fishes of Japan and China, the marine animals 
and fishes of Europe, and the rare creatures of Central Africa. 
Their army of collectors, resident in all parts of the world, constantly 
on the lookout for that which is strange or rare in nature, were and 
are controlled by the head — Mr. Henry Reiche — residing in this city. To 
these collectors were given orders that Aquarium objects should be 
captured and transported here together with other curiosities, and in 
obedience to these instructions the recesses of almost wholly unexplored 
regions of uncivilized countries were successfully searched and their 
treasures laid at the door of our citizens, and where they are in such 
countless numbers, that, as the venerable poet, William Cullen Bryant, 
said in a published letter to the New York Journals, " we have an insti- 
tution where one can learn more in two hours than from weeks of 
study." Not long after the brilliant prospects of the establishment were 
again clouded by misfortune and accident, the wholesale loss of costly 
whales and fishes. The same spirit of indomitable pluck was mani- 
fested again, and in a very short space of time the southern seas were 
white with Aquarium fleets in quest of new curiosities. The liberality 
and daring enterprise of the management have brought about their 
legitimate results — New York has now a resort that ranks among her 
foremost attractions. It is a delight for him who wishes merely to be 
entertained ; it is an invaluable college for the student of fishes and the 






INTRODUCTION. 



lover of aquaria. There is a growing taste in society for this latter 
branch of household adornment, and although text-books are valuable 
aids, there is nothing like the reality, in all its technical beauty, for the 
enthusiastic. As a recent article upon the subject says : *' A well regu- 
lated aquarium is indeed a beautiful ornament for the home, and one 
which is a perpetual source of amusement and instruction. It has the 
peculiar advantage of making us acquainted with forms and habits of 
animated existence, which are commonly hid from our inspection. 
Thus its influence upon the family circle is wholesome and elevating, 
tending constantly to awaken in all the members, both old and young, 
an increased love for the contemplation of the wondrous skill and wis- 
dom of the great Creator/'— R. F. Hamilton, 



PREFACE. 

THIS GUIDEBOOK contains the enumeration and description of 
nearly all the animals that have been or are on exhibition in the New 
York Aquarium. We have omitted only the mammals and birds that have 
lately been added to the collections, because it is intended to change 
them frequently, a few species of Parrotfishes {Psendoscarus), Angel- 
fishes {Holacanthus), and some Serranidae that have been kept since 
last summer without identifying them. The technical names of the 
animals are made synonymous with those given by Gill and Verrill in 
their Washingtonian Reports. As a system of classification we have 
adopted that of Gunther in his Catalogue of the fishes in the British 
Museum. Much information has also been derived frorr^the well-known 
works of DeKay and Jordan. 

Our thanks are due to Mr. R. J. Edgar, Secretary of the Aquarium, 
who kindly gave us the benefit of his thorough knowledge of the English 
language, and to Mr. A. W. Roberts, Collector for the Aquarium, for 
many notes referring to the habits of the animals and for a list of those 
living in the tanks last summer, H. Dorner. 



THE NUMBERS CORRESPOND WITH THE NUMBERS OF 
THE LABELS ON THE TANKS. 



POPULAR DESCRIPTION 



OF THE 



INHABITANTS OF THE TANKS. 




2 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

CLASS— MAMMALIA. 

Order — Artiodactyla. Fam. — Pachydermia: 

1. THE HIPPOPOTAMUS OR RIVER HORSE 

(Hippopotamus amphibius). This animal was captured on 
April 14th, 1875, by the collectors of Chas. Reiche & Bro., . 
on an expedition to the White Nile. It was taken from 
its mother fifteen minutes after birth, the parent being 
killed. Three weeks prior to this time the natives had 
observed and pointed out to the hunting party a pregnant 
female, and it was at once decided to follow and watch her. 
When the animal had separated from the herd and selected 
a quiet, solitary place, the hunters, aided by spy-glasses, 
kept a careful and constant watch on her from a long dis- 
tance, and so perfect were their arrangements, that only a 
quarter of an hour after the birth they were in possession 
of the young one. The reward of the natives consisted of 
the carcass of the mother, a prize they were highly satis- 
fied with, as not only the flesh is well flavored and tender, 
resembling that of the hog, but the skin, the hoofs, and 
many other parts of the body are useful to them, in many 
ways. The hunters only claimed the skull, which was 
brought with the young animal to New York, on October 
27th, 1875. 

To feed and transport the baby hippopotamus through 
the deserts of Africa, twenty-five goats and four strong 
camels were employed, the former to provide it with their 
milk, the latter to carry it in a suitable tank between them. 
Its weight was about ninety pounds when captured, it 
being a female and not as heavy as a male, which latter, 
as has been seen in the London Zoological Gardens, 
weighs nearly a hundred pounds when born. After its 
arrival it was put under the care of Dr. Kohn, who 
succeeded in keeping the animal during these two 
years in perfect health and to whom it is attached to such a 
degree that it follows him like a dog wherever he goes. Its 
food consisted entirely of milk during the first three months 
of its stay in America, and was then changed to bread, corn- 
meal and vegetables. Hay it does not like much, refusing 
even common grass in summer ; but it is very fond of a 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



peculiar kind of short grass growing in the Western States, 
which it occasionally eats in considerable quantities 

The Hippopotamus is a lazy, indolent animal ; sleeps 
many hours in the day and rests without interruption at 
night. It takes to the water naturally, when moderately 
warm, and it will enter reluctantly cold water when or- 
dered. Last winter it occasionally bathed in water of 35 ° 
Fahr., its health being uninjured apparently. The thick 
skin and the layer of fat beneath is a sufficient protection 
against cold. Yet it must be stated that in cold weather 
its skin bursts into folds at the neck and sides, sufficiently 
deep to place one's finger. 

When left alone, or when it perceives its keeper, it utters 
short, rough sounds. Even when it is not able to see him, 
and when separated from him by an opaque wall, it will 
smell his presence from a distance and act accordingly. 
All its senses are well developed. 

It generally is obedient and can be guided by commands, 
but when frightened, or when its eyes are not sufficiently 
clear — an occurrence happening once in about a month 
— it is wild, treacherous, and not to be trusted. At such 
times it is useless to attempt to drive it or use a whip or to 
use force in any way; the big, unwieldy mass, now weigh- 
ing about six hundred pounds, will easily overcome any 
temporary obstacle. When it expects food or when its 
keeper orders it, it will open its immense mouth and per- 
mit an inspection of its teeth, but generally it does not 
care much for strangers, snaps at them, and sometimes will 
tear the coat or pants of some careless visitor. At one 
time it even succeeded in pulling a watch and chain from 
the pocket of a person. It dislikes children, who should 
not be allowed to go too near the animal. 

In October, 1876, it cast its front teeth, in the same man- 
ner as children do, the new ones absorbing the roots of 
the primary teeth, which, when fallen out, measure but a 
quarter of an inch in height. Since that time, the new 
teeth have grown considerably, particularly the two mid- 
dle incisors of the lower jaw; the molar teeth appear to be 
very small, because the thick, fleshy gum covers the greater 
part of them. Its skin is almost naked, covered only by 
a few short, black hairs, but beset with numerous red spots, 
probably the dried secretion of the dermal glands. When 



4 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

it sweats the skin is covered with a kind of blood-red slime, 
the exact nature or purpose of which is unknown. 

The Hippopotamus is considered the most valuable of 
all exhibited animals, and this is the first time that a 
specimen has been seen as tame and obedient to its keeper. 



O rder — Pinnipedia . F am . — Phocidae. 

2. THE COMMON SEAL. (Phoca vitulina.) A lengthy 
description of these pets of the Aquarium is unnecessary. 
Everyone who has seen their fat supple bodies, their 

intelligent coun- 
tenances, their 
curious flippers, 
and has observed 
their great ability 
in swimming and 
diving, has 
been pleased and 
amused with their 
antics both in and 
out of the water. 
They have 
learned to climb, 
to ring a bell, to 
answer questions 
by barking, to 
make their bows 
to the audience, 
etc. 
3. THE BLAD- 
D E R N O S E 
SEAL. (Cysto- 
phoracristata.) A young specimen of this interesting seal 
was kept alive in the spring of 1877 for eight weeks. Its 
peculiarity consist in a hood, or hollow bag, right over the 
nose, which can be blown up at will and made to resemble 
a cap or hat. Ours was a young male, w T ith a small protu- 
berance which was raised only under excitement. It was 
very ferocious, tried to bite whoever approached it, and 
died at last from refusal of food. 




NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



4. THE NORTHERN SEA LION. (Eumctopias Stelleri) 
This large and powerful animal was brought from the 
western coast of North America, where it is found in herds. 
The extreme length of a male is said to be sixteen feet, 
but animals measuring twelve feet are seldom captured. 
Females generally are not half as large as males. Many 
thousands of them are slain annually ; their skin is used for 
glue-stock, their blubber, consisting of a double coating se- 
parated by a thin layer of muscular tissue, yields oil, in 
average ten gallons from each animal; the long spires 
of their whiskers, sometimes eighteen inches in length, 
are exported to China, wmere they are manufactured into 
personal ornaments. 

This Sea Lion has an elongated head and neck, the latter 
without the mane which is characteristic of the southern 
Sea Lion ; its upper lip is projecting and bears strong flex- 
ible whiskers ; its eyes are full, of expression; its ears small, 
cylindrical at the root, tapering to a point, and covered 
with short, fine hair. The teeth are strong, glistening and 
white. As in other Seals, the body resembles more a flex- 
ible bag filled with fat and meat than the body of an 
animal with a bony skeleton. Its flippers are enqased with 
a sort of thick shagreen, and are extremely long, the fingers 
project far over the horny claws so that the flippers appear 
in a very peculiar way when the animal uses them to clean 
its skin. Besides, they act in a threefold manner, as legs, 
feet, and fins. The color of the body is varying; dark 
brown, reddish brown, dull or light yellowish gray. 

The Sea Lions are found from the Galopagos Islands to 
the extreme north, and extend westward to the eastern 
coast of Siberia. They congregate in large herds on the 
islands and along the coast during the pupping season, 
which lasts three or four months in summer. During this 
time they feed' very little ; the males are most lively, bark 
and roar terribly so as to drown the noise of the heaviest 
surf, and fight desperately with each other, mutilating 
their bodies and not unfrequently disabling some of them 
from further association with their companions. In such 
strifes the ultimate victor has the supreme control over the 
whole herd or company. Both sexes unite in caring for 
the young/which at first have great aversion to the water; 
teach them their various movements and habits, and. 



6 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

to capture their prey. At the close of the season, in Sep- 
tember or October, they return to the sea, where they roam 
in all directions in quest of food, consisting of fish, mol- 
lusks, crustaceans, and seafowl, particularly gulls. 

The whalers kill them with rifles, aiming at the ear — on 
other parts of the body the ball has but little effect — some- 
times they succeed in cutting off their retreat to the sea 
and then dispatch them with clubs and spears. 



Order — Cetacea. 



5. THE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (Delphinus tursio). 
A specimen measuring eight feet in length was captured in 
the neighborhood of New York and kept alive for nearly 
two months. 

6. THE WHTTE WHALE (Defy/iinapterus /eucas). The 
effort made in the early history of the Aquarium to place 
one or more white whales on exhibition, was met by many 
serious obstacles, and only by the utmost pluck and perse- 
verance was the enterprise successful. In the first place, it 
involved the outlay of considerable capital with the utmost 
uncertainty of any favorable results ; while secondly, there 
were innumerable difficulties and dangers to be met and 
overcome. 

Early in the spring of 1876, Captain Zack Coup, started 
on the perilous journey. His route was via Quebec and 
down the north shore of the St. Lawrence. The mode of 
travel w T as by sleighs as far as they were available. After- 
wards it was by sleds drawn by a hard) r breed of dogs, and 
on snow-shoes. These appliances being all arranged at 
Quebec, Captain Coup and his fellow-travelers were soon 
on the confines of an uninhabited region of snow, the only 
sign of life being an occasional wolf, or fox. Nothing 
beyond the usual incidents of travel, which consist of 
numerous upsets in the snow, and interviews with hunting 
parties of peaceable Indians, occurred on the way. The 
fishing coast was finally reached and an island in the lower 
St. Lawrence was selected as the headquarters of this 
perilous adventure. It being in advance of the season 
when the whales descend to the coast of Labrador, Cap- 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



tain Coup availed himself of the time to make his excava- 
tions and enclosures. These are the means of capture and 
safe keeping, and they are built between high and low tide, 




so that the huge animal is in bondage before he knows it, 
and entirely free from injury. Two being secured, early in 
May, the work of preparation for their removal to New 



8 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

York began. Huge and strongly-built boats were made 
and thickly padded with sea- weed; the Whales transferred 
thereto, were shipped on board of a schooner and brought 
to Quebec. Thence they were removed to an Express car 
and brought by the Grand Trunk Railway to Portland, 
Maine; one more transfer to a stdamer, and the living and 
curious burden was on its way to New York. 

Thus was settled the practicability of handling Whales 
for aquarial purposes, and subsequent expeditions so 
far succeeded as to bring as many as fourteen in all. It is 
however a too costly enterprise to continue, and the pro- 
prietors feel that even more than a reasonable expectation 
on the part of the public has been gratified, and that in dis- 
continuing for a time the exhibition of Whales they will 
be free from the imputation of indifference either as to their 
own duty, or to the gratification of public curiosity and 
scientific examination. 

The first two Whales arrived in New York, in May of 
last year, and were the occasion of great excitement and 
curiosity. But a greater ovation was given when two 
others were brought to the Sea Side Aquarium at Coney 
Island last summer. The Aquarium there was not yet 
formally opened to the public, but the number of employees 
and laborers called together to receive and escort these 
huge animals, was large enough to crowd the place. Two 
big boxes, each containing one whale, were carefully car- 
ried inside by twenty-four men, one of the sides of each 
box was knocked out, and the animals were rolled in over 
thick layers of sea-weed. Before they were placed in the 
water, they behaved as quietly as a turtle nailed to the deck 
of a ship. They breathed regularly through the big spout- 
hole on the upper end of the head, but neither opened their 
mouth nor moved their tail or fin, and the big, unwieldy 
body looked almost like a corpse. The grayish-white skin 
was scratched and torn in many places, and a look both 
at the big animal in its narrow box and at the gang of 
rough, weather-beaten men that formed its escort plainly 
told of the hardships and fatigues which they must have 
undergone. 

Both whales and men were happy and contented indeed, 
when the transfer to the tank was over. The whales 
showed plainly they were satisfied and at ease, and though 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. O 

they could not give vent to their joy by jolly cheers, as the 
men did, they made noise enough by a lively splashing of 
the water with their powerful tails and loudly throwing 
out the air through their spout-holes. Soon the surface 
of the water was covered with numerous fragments of 
the skin, and a few days later the whales appeared in an : 
entirely new covering, of a lighter color than before. 
As long as they lived in the big tank of the Aquarium, 
they kept together, always swimming alongside of each 
other. They never changed their position. One of them 
was at the outside of the circle all the time, the other at 
the inside of it. They never turned around so as to swim 
their way backwards; regularly, as the hands of a watch, 
and in the same direction as this, they moved around their 
tank. Even at night it never could be observed that they 
rested or swam slowlier than usual, but, on the contrary, 
as soon as it was dark, they were more lively than before. 
It does not seem that they ever sleep. 

The only change in their habits is seen when a fresh 
supply of eels, their regular food, is thrown in. Then they 
begin to dive after them and chase them; keep longer 
under water, and spout more vigorously than before. 

Another change was observed in one of the Whales on 
a Sunday morning. The animal was moving slowlier than 
usual, and when it came to the surface to spout, the accom- 
panying sound w T as loud, harsh and disagreeable. It resem- 
bled the breathing sound of a man who has an obstacle in 
his throat and endeavors to throw it out. The Whale is 
hoarse, he has got a cold, was the general impression. This 
continued about two hours, when the sound grew less noisy 
and slowly changed to its normal condition. Exactly three 
weeks later, on another fine Sunday morning, the same 
animal seemed to be extremely weak. For the first time 
it really ceased to move or moved very slowly, at the same 
time being unable to keep its balance, and turning a little 
on its side, just as seen in fish when they are weak and dy- 
ing. The other Whale soon began to perceive that some- 
thing unusual and alarming was going on. At first he 
swam a little slowlier, so as to be always near his compan- 
ion, but when even then he found himself alone, as the 
other one did not move at all, he made a small circle 
through a quarter of the tank so as to come up with him 



r 



10 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM 



again. Sometimes he dived right under the sick compan- 
ion — a behavior never seen before by any one present — 
so that his back coming up really touched the belly of this 
one to raise and support it. 

The spectacle of the dying Whale and the touching as- 
sistance of his companion attracted a great many visitors, 
and every change in the behavior of the two was watched 
with anxiety. Two hours passed, when a change to the 
worse was observed. The sick Whale turned completely 
over and swam on his back. Endeavoring to gain the old 
position, he used up all the strength which was left to him, 
and the visitors were right in saying that this was his 
death struggle. After repeating this three times, and 
every time trying harder, but with less success, to regain 
his lost balance, he ceased to move and spout. The Whale 
died exactly at noon, July 15. 

At a post-mortem examination it was found that the 
cold which the Whale had three weeks before, was the cause 
of his death. The big lungs were congested and unable 
to contain the quantity of air necessary for the sustenance 
of life. 

It may be interesting to mention that the Whale was 
found to possess two large stomachs, the first one lined on 
the inside with a great number of compound warts, the 
second one smooth. Both are connected three inches be- 
low the end of the gullet, so that the first stomach may be 
regarded as a kind of ccecum or blind-gut. There were 
found some fragments of sea-lettuce and buccinum-snails 
in this stomach, and it is very likely that it serves as a 
receptacle for vegetable food, which is changed here in 
about the same way as in the first stomach of ruminant 
animals. 

The remaining whale did not show any signs of weak- 
ness. It was lively and hungry as ever, and soon was the 
only captured living white whale in America. All the 
others, that had been shipped from Labrador to Cincinnati, 
Chicago, Rockaway and New York were dead. 

When the season at Coney Island closed, the proprie- 
tors of the Aquaria, Chas. Reiche and Bro., decided to ship 
this animal, that had lived longer and was more vigorous 
than any of the rest, to the other side of the Atlantic. On 
Sept. 15th, it was brought on board the Bremen Steamer, 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. II 

carefully packed in the same manner as on its first ship- 
ment and under care of Capt. Zack. Coup, who had directed 
all whaling expeditions of the Aquarium; and a fortnight 
afterwards all prominent papers in Europe brought the 
astonishing news of the arrival of a living white whale in 
England. It was transported to the Royal Aquarium in 
London, where it expired four days after its arrival. 



REPTILES. 

TURTLES. 

Reptiles with the body enclosed between two large shields, one on 
the back, the dorsal shield; the other opposite, the ventral shield. Both 
shields are composed of many small plates, which either overlap each 
other, like the scales of fishes, or meet in a seam or suture. Every plate 
consists of an outer layer of horn and an inner layer of bone, the latter of 
which is firmly connected with the spinal column and the ribs. Turtles 
have no teeth, but their jaws are encased in horny sheaths, usually with 
sharp cutting edges. 

7. THE LEOPARD TORTOISE. (Testudo partialis) 
Several large and heavy specimens of these were brought 
by the collectors of Chas. Reiche and Bro. from South 
Africa, and deposited in the Aquarium. They are objects of 
curiosity and interest, as they gently and harmlessly move 
around among visitors. They feed on cabbage and other 
vegetables. 

8. THE COXJL (Testudo radiata.) Smaller than the preced- 
ing species of the tortoise, in company with which it was 
imported from Africa. It walks about the floor of the 
Aquarium, and is admired for the beauty of its shell, which 
is hemispherical, with flat, grooved, yellow-rayed shields. 
Length six to twelve inches. Madagascar. 

^ 9. THE SPOTTED TORTOISE. (Geoclemys guttata.) 
Shield black brown, with round yellow spots. This is a small 
turtle, not exceeding in length five inches, and found'abun- 
dantly in adjacent streams and ponds. On warm days it is 
seen on rocks and logs, basking in the sun, suddenly slip- 
ping into the water on the approach of real, or supposed 
danger. It feeds on small animals, and buries itself on the 
approach of winter in the mud at the bottom of pondg. 



12 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



10. THE PAINTED TORTOISE. (Chry semis picta) 

This is the handsomest of the fresh-water tortoises in North 
America. Its shell is smooth, with yellow lines along the 
sutures ; its head has yellow lines along the sides. It is a 
timid, inoffensive animal that feeds on insects and small 
amphibians. Length five to nine inches. Canada to Ver- 
ginia ; in ponds, never in running water. 

11. THE SALT-WATER TERRAPIN. (Malaelemis 
concentrica.) Upper shell oval, the plates with numerous 
deeply impressed concentric lines, lower shell reddish or 
orange, with irregular hoops or rings ; head, neck and legs 
dull bluish ash, with numerous black spots. This terrapin 
is well known and esteemed for its savory flesh. Length 
five to seven inches. New York to Florida. 



12. THE SNAPPING TURTLE. (Chelydra serpentina) 
As the name indicates, this turtle is not so sluggish and pa- 
tient as its relatives, but on the contrary, it is ferocious and 
will snap at almost everything within its reach. Its neck is 
long and very flexile; its beak has a hooked upper jaw and 
sharp, cutting edges, and the animal is enabled to move 
its head around and reach almost to the middle of its back. 
It feeds on frogs, fishes and waterfowl. Its upper shell has 
three strong keels ; its tail a central series of compressed 
tubercles. Length two to four feet. United States. 

13. THE MUSK TORTOISE, or STINK-POT. (Aroma 

chelys odoratum) A very small turtle with a brown shell and 
low stripes along the sides of the head. It lives in the 
mud of ponds and ditches, is usually coated with mud and 
aquatic plants, and emits a disagreeable odor. Length two 
to four inches. United States. 

14. THE MUD TORTOISE. (Kindsternum pennsylva- 
nicum.) Upper shell olive brown and vaulted ; lower shell 
yellow or orange ; jaws hooked ; tail with a* horny point. 
It inhabits ditches and muddy ponds, preys on fish, and has 
a strong, musky smell. Length four inches. Canada to 
Florida. 






NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



13 



15. THE SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE. (Platypeltis 
ferox.) Shell cartilaginous on its margin, dark slate colored 
and spotted. It feeds on fish and small amphibians, and is 
said to be more inclined to bite than other species of turtles. 



Length eight to ten inches. 



United States. 



16. THE GREEN TURTLE. (Chelonia viridis.) Every- 
body is familiar with the grotesque form of the turtles, and 
whoever watches a land-tortoise slowly crawling on its 
elephantine feet, may well be inclined to take these 
animals for neglected step-children of nature. But now 
look at the turtle in its fluid element ! How easily does 
the water carry its ponderous mass, how quickly does the 
animal divide the dense element, and how suitably does the 
form of its body seem to be adapted to the movement of 
swimming! The tortoise of the land and the turtle of the 
sea are very dissimilar brothers indeed ; unlike in faculties 
and habits, in mode of living, and in mastering or utilizing 
the surrounding circumstances. It is easy to comprehend 
that the slowly-moving land tortoise can get its living only 
from vegetation, while its roving relative feeds on animals. 
The former are scarce and of large size, while the latter 
abound in rivers and seas, and occur in all dimensions, frgm 
the size of a dollar up to the bulk of five hundred weight. 
The learned naturalist of the British Museum, John Edward 
Gray, knows only thirty different species of the land tor- 
toise, against five hundred and twenty seven of those tha{; 
are found in rivers and seas. 

Nowhere is the perfect adaptation of the form of the 
turtle to the element in which it lives better understood 
than in an aquarium. The large, flat, oar-like forelegs, 
situated just at the heaviest part of the body are the chief 
motors, and the flat body, resembling in its form that of 
water beetles, rays, or flat fish, glides by their means easily 
and continuously through the water. 

The Green Turtle is the largest and best known of all 
marine turtles. Its length is from two to five feet, and its 
weight from a hundred to a thousand pounds. The qualities 
of its meat are better understood and appreciated in a 
restaurant than in a guide-book. 



14 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



CROCODILIA. 

17. THE ALLIGATOR. {Alligator mississippiensis.) This 
species of Crocodile is found in great numbers in the South- 
ern States. When full grown it is fifteen feet long,but it sel- 
dom reaches this length,because 
of the general hostility with 
which it is pursued and killed. 
The Alligator, and other 
Crocodiles,constitute one of the 
most peculiar groups of ani- 
mals living. They are one of 
those interesting intermediate 
links between the extinct giants 
of the primitive world and the 
present creation. They also ap- 
proach the mammals in many 
parts of their organization. 
Their lungs are limited to the 
chest, which is separated from 
the abdomen by an imperfect 
diaphragm ; the chambers of the 
heart are divided so as to pre- 
vent the mixture of the two 
kinds of blood; the vertebrae of 
the neck bear ribs making the 
lateral movement of this part of 
thebodynearly impossible; and 
the development of their eighty 
conical teethis unique. Each op- 
ens onits interior endand close- 
ly fits into an elongation of the 
jaw. From time to time a new 
tooth grows from below gradu- 
ally lifting the old one, which 
is partly absorbed, the remain- 
der being thrown off. Pieces 
of the old teeth are often seen 
in connection with the new 
ones. As this change of teeth 
continues throughout life, the opinion of the ancients, that 
the Crocodile had as many teeth as there are days in the 
year, is still short of the truth. 




NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 15 



LIZARDS. 

18. THE HORNED FROG. (Phrynosoma orbicular e) 
This animal is called a frog, sometimes a toad, and, if a 
learned friend is near by, he will tell us that even their 
scientific name, phrynosoma, means "body of a toad." Yet 
even this designation is a misnomer, since the frog, or toad, 
never has scales and plates like this animal. It is only the 
shape of its body, which is flat and broad like a toad, that 
gave origin to its name. In fact it is a lizard. 

Its flat body is covered with spines, which are especially 
prominent at the neck, resembling the collar worn by hounds 
in Germany when hunting wild boars and wolves. Proba- 
bly nature had, in furnishing to the frog these spines, the 
same design as man has in giving them to the hounds, 
namely, protection from the teeth of their enemies. As to its 
habits it is inactive, lying all day long without any attempt 
to move, and but seldom taking food. 

19. THE GLASS SNAKE, STUMPFOOT or SHEL- 
TOPUSIK. (Pseudopus Pallasii.) A native of Daimatia, 
Austria. A very general popular fallacy prevails as to the 
true nature of these animals. Their snake-like appearance 
and locomotion favor this, and yet they present several es- 
sential differences from the snake. They have eyelids like 
the lizard, the snake has none ; their teeth are not hooked 
like those of the snake, and on close inspection two small 
feet are discernible near the root of the tail. These struc- 
tural peculiarities place them more among lizards; and that 
assumption is greatly strengthened by the manner in which 
these animals feed. They eat as a lizard does, and after 
the following fashion : a live mouse being placed in the 
box, it is caught by the head, and its body is pressed against 
the box ; its tormentor and destroyer meanwhile revolves 
with such rapidity as to benumb or stupefy it, and twists its 
body like a piece of string. The prey is then dropped, but 
still kept in view, that the tormenting and destructive pro- 
cess may be repeated until the last sign of life has disap- 
peared . The mouse, now dead, is eaten as it would be by any 
other lizard large and strong enough for this purpose. 



l6 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



SALAMANDERS. 

20. THE BLACK SALAMANDER. (Desmognathus ni- 
gra) Uniformly black, sometimes with small white spots 
on the sides. Tail compressed and finned. Length four 
to six inches. Shallow waters in Pennsylvania and New 
York. 



6 



21. THE RED SALAMANDER. (Spelerpes ruber) Ver- 
milion red, with numerous dark dots. Usually found 
under stones in shallow streams. Length four to six in- 
ches. Eastern States. 

22. THE TIGER SALAMANDER. (Amblystoma tigri- 

num) Brown, with many yellow spots; body thick and 
strong, head long and narrow, occasionally it is found in 
hollow decayed trees. Length six to eight inches. United 
States, east of the Rocky Mountains. 

23. THE AXOLOTL. (Stredon pisciformis) A most inter- 
esting salamander, a native of Mexico, about nine inches 
long, with a broad head and a crested tail. It has three ex- 
ternal gills on each side of the neck which separate into many 
branches and periodically flap backwards and forwards. Its 
color is dark brown. The specimens on view in the 
Aquarium were received from Europe. 

The Axolotls were introduced into Europe in 1864 by 
the Jardin d\4 cdimation. Five males and one female were 
placed on exhibition, and from them about 600 young were 
raised. After seven months, when nearly full grown, some 
remarkable changes took place in one of them. The large 
external gills disappeared almost entirely, the crest on the 
back and tail passed away, the head became narrower and 
more pointed, and light spots appeared on the dark body 
and limbs. Thus nearly the same changes took place in 
this animal which had been seen a number of times in the 
common Tritons, or Salamanders of Europe and America. 
Some weeks later a few more underwent the same transfor- 
mation, until nine of them had assumed the ultimate form. 
In the next year (1866) five specimens out of a thousand 
exhibited the same extraordinary development, and a few 
more were observed in the next year. 

Thus the supposition of some naturalists, before the evi- 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



*7 



dence given by Dumeril that the Axolotl was really the 
larval form of some unknown Salamander, was established. 
Cuvier, long before 1865, made the following remark: "I 
am obliged to place the Axolotl among the genera with 
permanent gills, because a great many persons testify that 
it does not lose the same ; " and Baird, the well-known 
leading naturalist of this country, said that the appearance 
of the Axolotl was so very larval as to exclude any doubt 
of its real nature, it being no evidence against this assertion 
that the perfect animal had not yet been found. 

The extraordinary facts in the natural history of this 
animal are not the changes already described, for a similar 
transformation is regularly observed in a great many other 
salamanders, frogs and toads, but its taking place in such 
a few instances, and, chiefly, its power of reproduction in 
the larval form, an attribute belonging with hardly an 
exception to the last and highest form of animal life. 

24. THE 

HELLBEN- 
DER. (Mcno- 
poma alleghan- 
ie7isis.) This 
is the largest 
of amp hi b- 
ious animals 
found in 
the United 
States. It is 
slate colored, 
has a broad 
head with 
very sm all 
e y e s, a de- 
pressed body 
lined with a 



prominent 

f o 1 d at its 

side, and a 

long, broad, 

and depressed tail. It seldom comes to the surface of the 

water, though it has no gills; it breathes through its skin 

and lungs. Length one to two feet. Eastern States. 




iS 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 







^ 



f < ' 



PROTE ANS. 

25. THE EUROPEAN PROTEUS. (Proteus anguzneus^ 

This animal is only found 
in subterranean lakes in 
Krain, (Austria). When 
first received their eel-like 
bodies were of a yellow- 
ish-roseate color. They 
manifested an extreme 
sensitiveness to light and 
sought concealment from 
it behind the rocks as sooa 
as they were placed in the 
tank. Their graceful form 
makes them especially in- 
teresting to visitors. Their 
head is long and flat; their 
legs short and slender, the 
fore-feet ending in three, 
and the hind-feet in two 
toes, without nails or 
claws. Like the Axolotls, 
they haveexternal gills ofa 
bright red color. Their 
eyes are extremely small, 
and entirely concealed be- 
neath the skin, so that it 
is impossible for them to 
get distinct impressions 
of form by sight. Yet they 
are affected by the light, 
and very probably their 
whole skin is sensitive to 
its delicate touch. This 
seems to follow, firstly, 
from their constant 
anxiety to get out of the 
light and remain in per- 
fectdarkness; and, second- 
ly, from the fact of the 
light colored skin changing to Mack when exposed today' 




NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



T 9 



light In about three months this change is accomplished. 
At first some dark spots make their appearance, and finally 
a bluish black color covers the entire body, except the belly 
and the underside of the compressed tail. 

In some Aquaria animals of this species have been kept 
for more than two years without taking food. Dr. Metten- 
heimer killed two Proteus which he had kept entirely with- 
out food for two years and two months, and it surprised him 
to find in the stomach of one of them two living intestinal 
worms. The specimens in the Aquarium do not show any 
such abstemiousness. They devour earthworms and other 
food with avidity, displaying their greatest activity, however, 
when water insects and small Crustacea, such as Gammarus 
and Daphnia, are placed in the tank. Then they cross the 
tank in every direction, snapping and catching the insects 
without once being impeded in their rapid progress. It 
appears that only when these insects are moving, the Pro- 
teus become sensible of their presence. 

26. THE MUD PUPPY, or PROTEUS. {Menobran- 
chus lateralis.) Like the Austrian Proteus, it has external 
gi lis which 
are persis- 
tent during 
life. It is 
brown, more 
or less spot- 
ted. Its head 
is broad and 
dep res sed, 



the tail high 
and c o m- 
pressed. 1 1 
feeds on 
crustaceans, 
shells, and 
fishes. 
Length one 
to two feet. 
E a stern 
States. 




20 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

FISHES. 
SUB-CLASS— TELEOSTEI. 

Order — Acanthropterygii. Fam. — Gasterosteidcz. 

27. THE COMMON STICKLEBACK. (Gasterosteus 
aculeatus.) This little lively fish is very interesting in the 
care of its eggs and brood. The male fish builds a round 
nest with waterplants and, after the female has deposited 
the eggs, is constantly close by, moving the pectoral fins 
in such a way as to drive a current of water through the 
nest. Sometimes the female, or other Sticklebacks, try to 
interrupt him, to enter the nest, and to devour the eggs, 
but the watchful and courageous male maintains a success- 
ful fight and keeps them at a safe distance from his charge. 
During the time of incubation it feeds very little, and yet 
is more lively and more brightly colored than at any other 
time. If the young ones fall out of the nest, the male takes 
them into his mouth and returns them. 

28. THE TWO-SPIXED STICKLEBACK. (Gasteros- 
teus biaculeatus.) Blackish, two large spines in front of the 
dorsal fin ; the ventral spine with a spinous process at the 
base. " 

29. THE NEW YORK STICKLEBACK. (Gasteros- 
teus noveboracensis.) The sides of the body and tail are entire- 
ly covered with a series of scaly plates. The ventral spine 
is very long. 



'Fam . — Berycida. 

30. THE SQUIRREL. (Holoce?itrum sogho) This is a 
very handsome fish with an elegant shape, and a reddish 
color that exceeds in brightness and splendor even that of 
the Goldfish. Its body is elongated and slightly com- 
pressed;its head is well proportioned, with prominent spines 
at the operculum; its fins are large and have beautiful out- 
lines. It swims quickly and vivaciously. G. Brown Goode, 
the author of several works on Bermuda fishes, calls it one 
of the most conspicuous of the denizens of the rock pools in 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 21 

the Bermuda Islands. Their voracity, he says, is very great, 
and the tyro in angling usually finds his first prize to be a 
Squirrel. The local name refers to a grunting noise ut- 
tered by them, which resembles the bark of a squirrel. 



F a m . — PercidcB. 

31. THE YELLOW PERCH. (Perca JIaveseens.) Olive, 
sides yellowish with broad dark bars. This fish is the type 
or representative of the Percidse or Perch family. It is 
very voracious, lively and strong, and will bite at almost 
any kind of bait. It differs very little from the European 
Perch, having a brighter hue and being a trifle less in height. 
Owners of Trout tanks are anxious to keep the Perch clear 
of them, as they destroy the Trout in great quantities. 
Fresh waters, United States, chiefly northward and east- 
ward. 

32. THE STRIPED BASS. (Roccus lineatus., A fish of 
the Perch family, equally prominent for its beautiful shape 
and color, and its gamey character and savory meat. It is 
bluish black, silvery on its sides and beneath. Along each 
side are from seven to nine black parallel stripes. "This 
fish," says Genio C. Scott, "the fish of fishes, par excellence, 
affords good sport with light tackle when its weight is but 
half a pound ; and it tries both the metal and skill of an 
angler after it rises to the ponderous importance of ten 
pounds, though it is said to attain to the weight of nearly 
a hundred. For muscular power the striped bass equals the 
salmon, but it lacks the caudal power for leaping, which is 
so palpable in the form of a salmon." 

The striped bass is not given to wandering or vagrancy, 
but is always found near the tidal waters of the rivers be- 
tween Portland and Norfolk. In November it shoals and 
congregates in brackish waters, where also its eggs are de- 
posited. It has successfully been confined to fresh water, 
though deteriorated in form and lustre. 

33. THE WALL-EYED PIKE, or YELLOW PIKE 
PERCH. (Lueioperea ai?iericana.) A large, handsome and 
§avory fish, the form of which somewhat resembles that of 



22 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

a pike though it is a true perch. It is yellowish grey with 
numerous dark spots ; its eye is very large and prominent. 
Length twelve to eighteen inches; weight up to fifteen 
pounds and over. Great lakes and western rivers. 

34. THE BLACK SEA BASS. (Centropristis atrarius.) 
This favorite fish is found along the Eastern coast of North 
America, from Cape Cod to Florida. It comes to us in the 
beginning of May, and remains through the summer. It 
is a strong, heavily built fish, of a blueish, sometimes a 
greenish, black color, with large scales, the deeper colored 
edges of which give a regularly reticulated appearance to 
the whole surface of the body, and a wide, leathery mouth, 
easily hooked and tenacious to hold. 

It is regarded as one of the most savory and delicate 
fishes of the season, particularly excellent for chowder. 
Its meat laminates in compact flakes, and is more succulent 
and delicate in taste than that of the Cod. "The Sea Bass, 
Porgee, and Tautog banks, along the coast of New Jersey," 
says Genio C. Scott, "form one of the attractions of 
Long Branch, and they are a real blessing to the members 
of the hand-line committee, who realize in them a cheap 
relaxation from business and the lassitude caused by too 
constant work in a city during the heat of summer." 

35. THE HAMLET OR GROUPER. (Epinephelis 
striatas.) A remarkable characteristic of this fish is its abi- 
lity to suddenly change its colors. Generally it is light slate- 
colored, with many broad cross-bands and some black 
spots around the eye, but when touched or frightened, it 
quickly assumes a darker hue, from gray to dark chestnut. 
It is a very common fish in Bermuda; is caught there in 
great quantities, kept in artificial ponds along the shore, 
and fed on fish and lobsters. 

"The Devil's Hole," says G. Brown Goode, "is a large 
natural pool near the centre of the main island. Here a 
large number of Groupers may usually , be found con- 
fined, and the place is much visited by strangers. At feed- 
ing time, when one looks into the clear waters of the pool 
nothing can be seen but an array of open mouths. When 
the food is thrown in, a scene of indescribable commotion 
and splashing occurs. They are very fierce,and rush savagely 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 2$ 

at anything which looks eatable. Thave seen two large 
ones,"each four feet in length, seize the opposite ends of a 
cuttle-fish arm, tugging for several minutes at the tough 
morsel before the question of ownership could be decided." 
The young fish are called Hamlets, but, after reaching a 
length of eighteen or twenty inches, are known as 
Groupers, which is a corruption of the Portugese Garoupa, 
the name of a similar fish found at Madeira. 

36. THE HIND. (Epinephelis guttatus.) A very hand- 
some fish, common in Bermuda, where specimens two feet 
in length are often met with in the markets. It is brown- 
ish or rosy-white, with numerous small circular spots of 
deep rose color, which are probably the origin of its popu- 
lar name. When kept long in a tank with plenty of light, 
its color fades. It is also recorded that specimens from 
the " White Water," where there is a bottom of white sand, 
are nearly white, while others have a dusky reddish-brown 
color. 

37. THE ROCK FISH. (Trisotropis undulosis) A large 
fish, attaining a length of five feet, and known as one of 
the choicest table-fishes in Bermuda. Its color is brown, 
mottled with large irregular spots and lines of brownish- 
violet. The Hamlet, Hind and Rock Fish belong to a 
group of fishes which are normally hermaphrodite, each 
fish after maturity carrying milk and roe at the same time. 

38. THE YELLOW-TAIL. (Oxyurus chrysurus.) A small 
fish with large fins. It is greenish olive, with oblique 
streaks above the lateral line and some shining golden 
bands along the sides. Bermuda Islands. 

39. THE GRAY SNAPPER. (Lutjanus caxis.) This is 
a very common fish in Bermuda, with a low, elongated, 
dark grey body. It is cunning and dexterous, and has, 
from its ability to avoid all contrivances for catching it, 
gained the nick-name of " Sea Lawyer." It attains a 
length of four feet, and is said to be one of the most 
delicious of food-fishes. 

40. THE FRESH WATER BASS. {Centrarchus aneus) 
A handsome and savory fish found abundantly in the 



34 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

great lakes and in the larger streams in the western coun- 
ties of New York State. It is greyish brown, and each 
scale has a dark centre. The anal fin has five or six 
strong spines. 

41. THE BLACK FRESH WATER BASS. (Centrar- 
chusfasciatus.) A fish twelve to fifteen inches long and 
common in the great lakes. It is of a dusky blue or 
green color, often with transverse bands and conspicuous 
dark spots at the fins. The soft part of the dorsal fin is 
covered with scales at the base. The anal fin has but three 
spines. 

42. THE SUNFISH. (Pomotis auritus.) A common but 
beautiful little fish that derives its proud name from its 
glittering colors. It is greenish olive with numerous red 
or orange spots ; the operculum (gill cover) has a rounded, 
membranaceous, bright scarlet lobe above the angle. Great 
lakes and eastern rivers. 



Fam. — Pristipomatidce* 

43. THE YELLOW GRUNT. (Rcemulon xanthopterum.) 
We have received a great number of different kinds of 
Grunts from the Bermuda Islands, where they are quite 
common and plentiful. They have an oblong, compressed 
body, a horizontal, wide mouth, blood-red inside, the usual 
number of fins, and a differently, but always handsomely 
colored body. The Yellow Grunt is easily recognized by 
its color. Its length is from six to twelve inches. 

44. THE WHITE GRUNT. (Hcemulon quadrilineatum.) 
Light colored, with two brown and two broad golden bands 
along each side of the body. It is found in schools in the 
Bermuda Islands. 

45. THE BLUE-STREAKED GRUNT. (H amnion ele- 
ga?is.) A beautiful fish, with many waving, light-blue, hori- 
zontal bands, edged brownish. Bermuda Islands. 

46. THE MARGATE FISH. (Hamulon chrysopterum.) 
This fish is nearly allied to the Grunts, but differs from 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 25 

them by being larger in size and by its faculty to change 
color. Generally it is of a beautiful pearly-white, with 
two or three faint stripes along the body, but sometimes it 
suddenly assumes a darker hue, the stripes becoming almost 
black. Its length is from nine to eighteen inches. Bermuda 
Islands. 

47. THE BLACK TRIPLE-TAIL or FLASHER. 
{Lobotes surinamensis?) A high bodied, strong fish. It is a 
foot or more in length, and is of a rusty blackish 
color. The anal fin and the soft part of the dor- 
sal fin, are of equal development, both reaching to about 
the middle of the caudal and producing the appearance of a 
triple-tailed fish. It is rare on our coast, but is found in 
great numbers in theCarribean Sea, the Indian Ocean and 
the Chinese Seas. 



Fam. — Sparidce. 



48. THE SILVER BREAM. (Sargus argenteus) The 
color of this fish is a very brilliant silvery white, interrupted 
only by a black band across the back of the tail. Its body 
is high and compressed ; the profile of its head is plain and 
oblique so as to form a pointed mouth. Its length is from 
six to twelve inches. It is common in Bermuda. 

49. THE SHEEPSHEAD. (Archosargus probatocephalus) 
A big, clumsy fish with about a dozen large, bare teeth, 
and five conspicuous blackish cross bands. The appear- 
ance of its mouth and teeth, the profile of its head, curved 
nose and foreh'ead are sheep-like, whence the name. They 
are found in our waters during summer, when they are 
eagerly looked after as a delicacy. They return to the 
South in the fall. Length ten to twenty inches. Cape 
Cod to Florida. 

50. THE RHOMBOIDAL PORGEE or SARGO. {La- 
godonr/tomboides.) Similar to the preceding, but smaller 
and more graceful. It has five dusky cross bars, like the 
Sheepshead, longitudinal stripes above the lateral line, and 
a black blotch at the origin of it. Length three to five 
inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 



26 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

51. THE BIG PORGEE. (Stenotomus argyrops.) A bril-. 
liantly shining fish with a high compressed body, convex 
above. There are four to six strong conical canine-like 
teeth in the outer series of teeth of both jaws. This fish was 
formerly abundant in our waters during the summer sea- 
son, and was brought in large quantities to the markets, 
where it commanded a high price. It has become scarce 
now. Length six to twelve inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 



Fam. — Squamipinnes. 



52. THE FOUR -EYED FISH. (Sarothrodus bimaculatus.) 
This is a very graceful and delicate fish, with a nearly cir- 
cular outline, and a protruding and pointed snout. Its 
body is pearly-grey; the vertical fins are bright yellow; a 
black band runs across the eye. Its name has reference to 
a black eye-like spot on each side of the tail, which the 
fishermen believe to be a true eye. Brown Goode states 
that it is usually seen in sheltered coves, lazily swimming 
a few feet below the surface, under the shadow of some 
high rock. Its length seldom exceeds four inches. Ber- 
muda Islands. 

53. THE ANGEL FISH. [Holacanthus cffiaris.) Thib is 
a common fish in the West Indies and the Bermuda Islands, 
and is easily procured during summer; yet none more 
beautiful has ever been placed in our tanks and none that 
was regarded with as much pleasure and enthusiasm. It 
is one of those tropical creatures which nature seems to 
have endowed with a bountiful hand, and that awakens 
feelings of admiration. 

No description can give an adequate idea of the grace 
and beauty of this fish. It must be seen to be appreciated. 
Its body is short and high; the dorsal and anal fins are 
very large, protruding at their anterior parts, thick at their 
base and covered with scales, so that they seem to be a 
continuation of the body. The scales are large, delicate 
brown with a shade of olive-green, and each of them is 
edged with a lighter tint. The chin, nape, upper eye-lid, 
base of the pectoral and ventral fins, and the margin of 
the dorsal and anal fins are bright cobalt-blue, with lines 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 27 

of the same color extending over the operculum. The 
caudal fin and the continuation or appendages of the 
longest spines of the dorsal and anal fins are bright yellow. 
The motions of the Angel Fish are slow. It is seen in 
the sheltered parts of the coral reefs of the Bermuda 
Islands, lazily and gracefully swimming or floating a few 
feet below the surface. It feeds principally on coral- 
polyps. It attains a weight of four pounds, and is con- 
sidered the best flavored fish in Bermuda. 

54. THE BROWN ANGEL FISH. (Holacanthus tri- 
color^) We have received several specimens of this equally 
handsome and graceful fish from Florida. Its form and 
habits resemble those of the preceding species; its color 
is mainly dark brown, each scale being edged with a 
lighter color ; the head and some markings are yellow. 
Its length is from six to fifteen inches. 

55. THE BLUE-STRIPED ANGEL FISH. {Holacan- 
thus formosus.) This is a small, dark-colored species, orna- 
mented by four blue transverse bands over the body and a 
blackish ocular band, edged with blue. We had several 
specimens of this fish brought from Florida. 

56. THE MOON FISH or THREE-TAILED PORGEE. 

(Parephippus faber.) The body of this fish is much com- 
pressed and elevated and has six dark vertical bands; the 
third dorsal spine is elongated, and the anterior portion of 
the dorsal and anal fins is protruding. It is a large and re- 
markable looking fish, of from five to eighteen inches. It is 
occasionally found in great numbers in our vicinity 
during the summer. Cape Cod to Florida. 



Fa m . — Trizlid(E. 

57. THE- SEA-RAVEN or YELLOW SCULPIN. {He- 
mitripterus acadianus.) It is very difficult to give an exact 
idea of what a sea-raven is. If we say, it is the most ugly, fan- 
tastically comical, or funny-looking fish we ever saw, the 
description would not be understood, and if we would give 
the minutest details in an elaborate description, it would 
not be read. It must be seen alive in water to be appreciated. 



28 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

Fishermen have a great aversion to it and regard its 
presence in their nets with a feeling little short of abhorrent 
disgust; some are even afraid to touch it, believing it to be 
poisonous, and yet it is an object of great curiosity to 
visitors. 

The body of this remarkable fish is covered with appen- 
dages, the form of which is very variable. The color of 
some specimens is brown with darker spots, that of others, 
mottled like marble, or red, or bright lemon with white 
spots. There are no scales in its skin, so that when you 
touch or handle it, it feels like a soft, slippery, quivering 
mass of jelly-like substance. The sea-raven is often found 
in the vicinity of New York, but it is more abundant fur- 
ther north. 

58. THE NORTHERN SCULPIN. (Cottus grcenlandicus) 
A fish full of spines but without any scales. If attacked it 
spreads all the spines so that no animal can touch it with- 
out hurting itself. This species generally has circular white 
spots on the abdomen. Polar Regions to Cape Hatteras. 

59. THE SLENDER SCULPIN. (Cottus octodecim-spino- 
sus.) When taken from the water this fish spreads its head 
to twice its usual size by the distension of the branchial 
membrane, and presents rather a formidable appearance. 
The spine on the pre-opercle reaches the point of the opercle. 
Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras. 

60. THE SMOOTH-BROWED BULL-HEAD. (Cottus 
mitchilli.) The most common of this genus in the vicinity 
of New York. It is of a yellowish color, with confluent 
bars and blotches over the body; all the fins with inter- 
rupted black bars. 

61. THE BANDED GURNARD OR SEA-ROBIN. 

(Prionotus lineatus) A rather queer looking fish, with 
many spines and very large pectoral fins. In front of 
these fins there are three filaments or fingers, which can 
be moved separately and are used as feelers when it 
crawls over the bottom. It is a bottom-feeder, and not 
only devours various kinds of crustaceans but takes the bait 
off the hook of fishing lines, carefully avoiding the sharp 
steel points. Cape Hatteras to Florida. 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 20 

62. THE WEB-FINGERED GURNARD. (Prionotus 

carolinus.) This is a larger and scarcer species than the 
preceding one. It is of a brown hue, clouded with a still 
darker color. The first dorsal fin has a black spot ; the 
second is marked with oblique whitish streaks. Cape Cod 
to Florida. 

63. THE FLYING ROBIN. {Dactylopterus volitans.) 
The pectoral fins of this queer looking fish are so largely- 
developed that it is enabled to leap above water and soar 
after the manner of a bird, sometimes as far as two or three 
hundred feet. It is a handsome fish, but so curiously 
shaped as to make a description of it difficult of compre- 
hension. Length about six inches. Newfoundland to 
Florida. 



Fam. — Scianidcs. 



64. THE BIG DRUM. (Pogonias chromis) A heavily 
built fish attaining to a large size and a weight up to 
eighty pounds. It is easily recognized by having about 
twenty cirri or beards beneath the lower jaw. It is found 
in our waters during summer, and feeds on mussels, clams 
and oysters, varying this food with crustaceans. In winter it 
is found in the South. The name is derived from a noise 
it produces resembling the distant sound of drums, prob- 
ably caused by the strong compression of the expanded 
pharyngeal teeth upon each other, w T hen they crush and 
grind the oystershells. The young of this fish are 
described as — 

THE BANDED DRUM. {Pogonias fasciatus.) They re- 
semble the old ones except in their color. Their surface 
shines silvery, and there are four to five blackish vertical 
bands extending down the sides. 

65. THE KING FISH. {Menticirrus neGulosis.) A 
handsome fish, with seven oblique dusky bands descending 
from the back to below the lateral line, and a short barbel 
at the chin. It often lies on its side to rest, appearing to 
visitors as if sick or dead. It got its high-sounding name 



30 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

from the early English colonists, to designate the high 
esteem in which it was held as an article of food. Cape 
Hatteras to Florida. 

66. THE LAFAYETTE FISH. (Liostomus obliquus.) A 
handsome fish, with fourteen to eighteen transverse, oblique 
bands over the back. Color whitish, shining purplish and 
silvery when the sun strikes it. The front of its head is 
nearly perpendicular. This fish happened' to be in the 
vicinity of New York in almost incredible numbers in the 
summer of 1824, when "the great and good La Fayette" 
arrived in this city, and thus his name was unanimously 
given to the fish which was then considered entirely new. 
Since that time the Lafayette Fish is a permanent resident in 
our waters, but seldom in great numbers. Its length is from 
six to ten inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 

67. THE RED or SPOTTED BASS. (Saanops ocella- 
tus.) A beautiful, well flavored fish with a low body. There 
are one or two conspicuous black spots at the root of the 
caudal fin. It is bluish above ; the head, cheeks and shoulders 
are golden, with metallic reflections. Length one to three 
feet. Cape Cod to Florida. 

68. THE WEAK FISH, or SQUETEAGUE. (Cynoscion 
regalis.) A fish with a long, slender body, bluish above, 
with darker oblique streaks, following the transverse series 
of scales. It visits our coast during the spawning season, 
which lasts from April to November. The best time to 
catch this fish is from June to October when the shad begin 
to disappear. The meat of small weak-fish is white and 
rather mealy ; while of those weighing about ten pounds 
it is as flaky as that of a salmon. 



Fam. — Scombridoe. 



69. THE PILOT FISH. {Naucrates ductor) This is a 
well known fish to mariners. It generally accompanies 
the shark, and receives its name from the supposition that 
it io their leader. Probably it feeds on the matter execreted 
and rejected by the shark. Its body is oblong and bluish 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 31 

with five to seven dark vertical bands, and a keel on each 
side of the tail. Its length is from six to eighteen inches. 
It is found in all the seas of the temperate and tropical 
regions. 

70. THE SUCKER FISH or WHITE - TAILED- 
REMORA. (Leptecheneis naucrates.) The most remarkable 
peculiarity of this fish is the flattened disk on the upper 
part of the head, into which the first dorsal fin is trans- 
formed. By means of this disk, which is composed of 
numerous transverse, cartilaginous, movable plates, the 
Sucker fastens itself to the bottom of ships or to the belly 
of fishes, such as large sharks. This serves the double 
purpose of enabling it to travel to great distances, and to 
get its nourishment from larger and stronger animals than 
itself. This will account for its location at points so 
remote from each other as China, Australia, and our own 
coast, which it could not reach except by adhering to 
ships. The ancient Romans, to whom this fish was well 
known, believed that a ship, to which a Sucker fastened 
itself, was unable to be moved. Its length is from twelve 
to eighteen inches. 

71. THE HARVEST or DOLLAR FISH. {Poro- 
notus triacanthus.) A gorgeously colored fish. Its sides 
are resplendent with brilliant metallic green, blue and 
golden hues. The body is much compressed and elevated; 
the dorsal and anal fins are low and long, and of equal 
development. It is similar in size and form to the horse- 
fish (No. 75), which it resembles in its dancing motion; the 
dorsal outline is equally rounded in its entire length, but 
it has no ventral fins like the horse-fish. Maine to Hat- 
teras. 



F a m . — Ca rangidce 



72. THE HORSE CREVALLE. [Carangus hippos) A 
beautiful and gorgeously colored fish with a much com- 
pressed and nearly elliptical body. The lateral line is 
armed on its posterior part with bony plates. Length six 
to nine inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 

^ 73. THE YELLOW MACKEREL. {Carangus chrysos. 
Similar to the former, but the body is lower, more elon- 



32 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

gated, and the yellow color extends farther. Both fishes 
appear in our waters in August, and leave about the begin 
ning of October. In confinement they are very delicate, 
and die when frightened. Length six to nine inches 
Cape Cod to Florida. 

74. THE THREAD FISH or LONG ISLAND 
ANGEL FISH. {Blepharichthys crinitus.) The beauty o\ 
this little fish exceeds even that of the tropical fishes. Its 
body, which is not over six inches in length, has an almost 
circular outline, and is covered with a delicate skin, shining 
with the colors of mother-of-pearl The pectorals and the 
anal fin are elegantly shaped and of a silk-like appear- 
ance. But the most remarkable feature of this fish is the 
long, silk-like threads, the continuation of the spines of 
the dorsal and anal fins. These surpass the length of the 
body three to four times. The movements of this tender 
fish are very interesting. It keeps afloat near the centre 
of its tank, and moves carefully around so as not to hurt 
its long, floating threads. It is scarce in our waters, but is 
found during August and September on the Long Island 
coast. Later in the season it returns to the Caribbean 
Sea. The French colonists in the Antilles call it the 
" Shoemaker" (Cordonnier), probably because of the long 
threads which, at their ends, resemble pieces of white wax. 

75. THE HORSE or MONKEY FISH. {Vomer setipin- 
nz's.) The body of this fish is much compressed and elevat- 
ed; the back is nearly straight, abruptly descending above 
the eye and forming a concave profile. It is a beautiful, 
uniform silvery fish, swimming in a peculiar way. Each 
stroke of the long pectorals brings it suddenly upwards, 
but only to sink again the next interval, so that it seems to 
be in a kind of dancing motion. Length six to ten inches. 
Maine to Florida. 

76. THE BLUE FISH. {Pomatomus mltatrix.) A well 
known and valued table-fish, bluish above, lighter beneath 
and on the sides. Its body is oblong and compressed. The 
cleft of the mouth is rather wideband the jaws contain a 
series of very strong teeth. Those caught in September 
and October are the most prized. They have a wide range 
in nearly all the seas of the tropical and temperate regions. 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



33 



77. THE BLACK RUDDERFTSH. {Palinurichthys per- 
ciformis) An occasional visitor to our shores. Itsbody is ob- 
long elliptical and compressed ; length nine inches. Color 
bronze black ; eyes orange yellow. Maine to Cape Hatteras. 

F a m . — Batrachida. 

78. THE TOAD-FISH. (Batrachus tau.) # An ugly fish 
without any scales, and covered with a thick coating of 
slime, so that the color does not appear with distinctness. 
Sometimes it is olive-green, mottled with brown ; at other 
times it is brown, marbled with darker colors. The head is 
wider than the body. Generally this fish lies motionless 
at the bottom, half buried in the sand or in seaweed. It 
gets its food either by sucking in small marine animals, or 
by suddenly seizing smaller fishes within its reach. Its 
flesh is said to be well flavored when properly cooked. 
Length six to twelve inches. Nova Scotia to Florida. 

F am . — Pediculati. 

79 THE ANGLER, SEA-DEVIL, FISHING-FROG, 
BELLOWS -FISH, GOOSE -FISH or MONK-FISH. 

(Lophius pisca- 
torius.) This is 
a very ugly and 
repulsive look- 
ing fish. It 
seems to be 
nothing but 
head or rather 
mouth, with a 
small body at- 
tached thereto. 
The head is 
nearly circular 
in its outline, 
the cleft of the 
mouth occupy- 
ing half of it. 
The teeth are 
large and num- 
erous, and there 
are many small 




34 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM, 



barbels around the mouth. Its first dorsal fin consists of 
a few, separate, very long and flexible spines, which are in 
perpetual motion, and thus serve to attract its prev. while 
the fish is otherwise at rest on the bottom, half covered by 
sand and mud. Another peculiarity of its bodv are the 
stalked or pedunculated pectorals which clearly indicate 
their homology with the arms or forelegs of higher animals. 
The Angler is not uncommon on our coasts. It has 
been caught off the battery in New York City, and is 

sometimes hauled 
up by the lines 
laid out for 
codfish, hav- 
ing swallowed one 
of the fish and be- 
ing unable to get 
rid of hook and 
line. There have 
been exhibited in 
the Aquarium sev- 
eral specimens of 
this fish, and a 
large cast, made of 
one of them, shows 
all the remarkable 
features of their 
body : but unfor- 
tunateiy it seems 
to be almost impos- 
sible to keep them 
alive in the tanks 
for more than a 
couple of days. 

80. THE WALKING FISH. [Ptercpkrytu hcmgata.) 

This fish is a near relative of the Angler. Its pectoral 
fins are pedunculated so as to resemble the forefeet of a 
mammal, after the manner of which it uses them. It is a 
remarkable sight to see this curiously shaped fish quietlv 
and slowly crawl along the bottom of the tank, placing 
one foot after the other with apparent cautious discern- 
ment. But for this peculiarity one might be inclined to 




NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 35 

take the Walking Fish for a Sea-raven, the odd fringes 
and tossels of which are even more plainly conspicuous 
and numerous than in the raven. The whole body is 
covered with cutaneous tentacles ; even parts of the fins 
are transformed into tufts branching off to the sides like 
fern leaves. The ground-color of the skin is yellowish, 
largely marbled with brown ; round white spots are on the 
sides and belly. Specimens of this fish have been found in 
the Atlantic, the Indian and Chinese seas, north of Aus- 
tralia and in Polynesia. That exhibited in the Aquarium 
was caught near Newport, R. I., and presented by Mr. E. 
V. Lawter. 



Fam. — Blenniidce. 



81. THE SEA WOLF. {Anarrichas vomerinus.) A fish 
three to five feet long, with an elongated body, long and 
narrow dorsal and anal fins, a high and compressed head, 
and large, ugly teeth in a wide mouth. It is said to be of 
a voracious and savage character, and marvellous tales are 
related by the fishermen of the strength and power of their 
jaws, exaggerations, probably, from its formidable appear- 
ance. Greenland to Cape Hatteras. 

82. THE WRY-MOUTH, or GHOST-FISH. {Crypta- 
catithodes maculatus.) A rare and remarkably shaped fish, 
with an eel-like body and an oblong head, the lower jaw of 
which is directed upwards in a very conspicuous way. 
The name is derived from its sullen or wry-mouthed facial 
expression. It is of a reddish white color, with many irreg- 
ular, bright, reddish brown blotches. Nothing is known 
about its habits. In confinement it tries to conceal itself, 
moves very little and probably feeds at night. Nova Scotia 
to New Jersey. 

83. THE EEL-POUT, CONGER-EEL or LAMPER- 
EEL. (Zoarces anguillaris.) A fish with a long and narrow 
body ; the dorsal, caudal and anal fins connecting. The 
head is thicker and wider than the body ; the mouth is sit- 
uated at the lower side. Its color is dark olive, varied with 
dusky blotches. It is caught in company with the Cod. 
Length two to three feet. Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras, 



96 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



Fam. — Acromiridcc. 



84. THE DOCTOR-FISH. (A canthurus nigricans) This 
fish derives its name from a movable, lancet-shaped spine, 
situated in a longitudinal groove on each side of the tail. 
It is dark-colored, with different, rather inconsistent mark- 
ings of blue ; its body is high and compressed. Its move- 
ments are quick and nervous, and when kept confined with 
other fish, they are subject to serious injury from its lancet. 
They are of such a chivalrous character that one Doctor- 
fish will even fight and kill another of the same kind 
Their length is from six to twelve inches. We had speci- 
mens of it brought from Bermuda. 



Fam. — Labyrinthici. 

85. THE GOURAMI. {Trichogaster fasdatus.) A small, 
but very handsome fresh-water fish from the East Indies, 
imported to this country by Messrs. Chas. Reiche & Bro. 
Their high and compressed body has many oblique, dark 
stripes. The abdominal fins resemble long bristles, and the 
anal fin is lined by vermilion dots. 



Fam. — Mugilidoe. 

86. THE STRIPED MULLET. (Mugili lineatus.) A 
slender fish with nearly a straight dorsal outline; head 
covered with large scales, shining with a greenish metallic 
reflection. Length six to eight inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 



Fam. — Pomacentridce. 

87. THE COW-PILOT, or SERGEANT-MAJOR. (Gly- 
phidodon saxatilis.) A short fish, not exceeding six inches in 
length, with an elevated body and five black cross bands in 
a golden-green skin. It very common throughout the West 
Indies, and frequents the sheltered waters in company with 
Parrot, Angel, and Four-eyed Fishes. It feeds on shellfish. 
Our specimens were brought from Bermuda, but did not 
long survive the change. 



-> NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 37 

Fam. — Labridce. 

88. THE HOG-FISH. (Lachnolamus falcatus.) This fish 
gets its name from its swine-like profile and dentition. Its 
body is compressed and elevated, its snout pointed, its dor- 
sal spines protruding, and its skin resembles brown and red 
marble. When it swims, the dorsal spines and their long, 
streamer-like appendages or continuations give it a 
singularly graceful appearance. 

It is very common in Bermuda and caught there in great 
numbers. It attains a length of thirty inches and a weight 
of twenty pounds; has a hard, white, exquisitely-flavored 
flesh, and ranges among the choicest of table-fish. 

89. THE NEW YORK TAUTOG, or BLACKFISH. 
(Tautoga onitis.) Belongs to the family of Labridce or Wras- 
ses, so called from labrum or lip, which is protrusile in these 
fishes. These fishes live on rocky shores, and feed chiefly 
on mollusks. Their dentition is admirably adapted for 
crushing shells and crabs. 

The Tautog has a compressed, oblong body, covered with 
small, adherent scales ; its color is bluish black, with ir- 
regular darker blotches and bands. It is abundant on our 
coasts from April until late in the autumn, when it retires 
into deeper water. It weighs about two pounds, but is 
sometimes found weighing as much as ten pounds. It is a 
well-known, strong, savory fish, and is a great favorite with 
anglers, to one of whom (Isaac M'Lellan) we are indebted 
for the following accurately descriptive lines: — 

Wherever kelp and sea-weed cling 
To ramparts form'd of rugged rocks, 
The tautog finds a dwelling place, 
Deep down in waters at their base ; 
Or where a passing boat hath met 

Its fate along the rocky shore, 
And, with its broken ribs and keel, 

Lies rotting on the ocean floor — 
There, where the clinging shell and weed 

Gather, and barnacles abound, 
The blackfish, seeking out their food, 
In numbers by the hook are found. 

90. THE BERGALL or CUNNER. (Tautogolabrus 
adspersus.) A prettily shaped, lively and cunning fish, with 



38 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

a row of sharp, cutting teeth in both jaws, covered by fleshy 
lips. Its colors are variable, more or less blue or brown, 
sometimes with dusky bars. The fishermen dislike this 
fish because it nibbles their bait. Length six to twelve 
inches. Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras. 

THE SPOTTED BERGALL. [Tautogolabrus umnotatus) 
This is apparently only a variety of the former. It has a 
black spot on the first two soft rays of the dorsal fin. 

91. THE SLIPPERY DICK. {Ckatrojuiis bivittatus.) 

This fish has its curious name from its ability to escape 
from the nets and pounds, or from the hand, by aid of its 
quickness in moving and its slippery surface. When 
caught and put into an open tank it tries to get out by 
jumping high above the surface. It is a small fish, about 
six inches long, with a straight upper and lower outline. 
Its surface is covered by brown, bluish and red spots and 
bands; the base of its dorsal fin is violet. It likes to hide 
itself, and at night to sleep among the pebbles or sand at 
the bottom of the tank, and so thoroughly does it conceal 
itself that hardly a spot of it is to be seen ; but when dis- 
turbed it swims around lively and dexterously. The 
inhabitants of the Bermuda Islands do not eat this fish be- 
cause they have a superstitious belief that they will lose all 
their hair after doing so 



F am . — Gadidtz. 



92. THE CODFISH. {Gadus morrhua.) This is one of 
the most valuable of all fishes. It lives in deep water 
during the summer months, comes to the shores about the 
end of August, and remains in the vicinity of the land all 
winter. During this time many millions of them are 
caught. Their weight averages from five to fifteen pounds, 
but it is not uncommon to find specimens weighing forty 
or fifty pounds, and several trustworthy persons have 
reported the capture of cod of more than five feet in length 
and of a weight of over a hundred pounds. The number 
of eggs in one cod is simply enormous. In one instance 
the roe weighed seven and three-quarter pounds, and, on 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 39 

a careful calculation, it was found to contain no fewer 
than 6,876,000 eggs. This explains how it is possible that 
the sea contains such a vast supply of this useful fish. 

In 1865 it was discovered by Dr. George Ossian Sars, a 
famous naturalist of Norway, that the spawn of the cod 
and similar fishes floats on the surface of the sea during 
the whole period of its development, which is stated by 
him to occupy sixteen days. The eggs are almost trans- 
parent and resemble grains of boiled sago. 

The Cod is found in countless schools in the northern 
parts of the Atlantic ocean, both on the American and 
European coasts, in greatest abundance, however, in the 
vicinity of New England and Newfoundland, as was 
known centuries ago. Those on the New England coast 
are said to be better than what are caught off Newfound- 
land. This was known as early as 1616. Capt. John 
Smith said in a report about them: " In the end of August, 
September, October and November, you have Cod againe 
to make Cor fish or Poore John : & each hundred is as 
good as two or three hundred in the New-found Land." 
Thomas Morton writes about the Cod at the coast of New 
English Canaan (New ( England), in 1636: "The coast 
aboundeth with such multitudes of Codd, that the inhabi- 
tants of New England doe dunge their grounds with Codd; 
& it is a commodity better than the golden mines of the 
Spanish Indies ; for without dried Codd the Spaniard, Port- 
ugal & Italian would not be able to vittell of a shipp for 
the sea." 

The food of the Cod is greatly varied and consists, 
according to the statement of Simeon F. Cheney, of crabs, 
scollops, and the jellies on the bottom. Larger Cod eat 
small flounders, small pollock and hake, small salmon, 
sea-perch, cunners, with other things found at the bottom 
of the water, but they always prefer the herring. Some 
come in schools and eat the herring spawn. 

There are two varieties of the Cod, a smaller one, with 
a bright golden color, that lives mostly on the banks; and 
a larger one with a brownish color that is found on the 
shore. Some specimens of the former are almost as bright 
as goldfish. They are splendid to look at. "How unlike," 
says Frank Buckland, " how very unlike is a live cod 
to the flabby, big-headed creature one sees on the fish- 
monger's slab ! The live Cod is an intelligent looking 



40 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



creature. True he has an immense mouth and great roll- 
ing eyes, but can't he swim! He goes as easily and as 
swiftly as an express train. A slight move of his tail and 
away he goes, darting like an arrow." 

93. THE TOM-COD, or FROST-FISH. {Microgadus 
tomcodus.) A small and lively fish, found on our coasts at 
all times, but most abundantly after the first frost in the 
early part of winter. Its head is small and flattened above; 
its tail is long and slender. It is of dark olive green color, 
with irregular streaks and blotches. Length four to twelve 
inches. Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras. 

94. THE HADDOCK. {Melanogrammus cegleftnus.) Has, 
like the cod, a barbel at the chin, three dorsal and two anal 
fins. The abdominal fins are situated in front of the pecto- 
rals. It is distinguished from the cod by a lighter color, 
the jet black lateral line, and by the form of the first dorsal 
which is elevated and pointed. 

The Haddock is not as common as the cod, though it 
comes to our markets by the hundred thousands, and is at 
times, particularly during summer, more easily obtained 
than the latter. It is inferior as an'article of food, cannot 
be kept alive in the wells of the fishing smacks like the cod 
and is very difficult to keep alive in a tank. 

95. THE POLLOCK, or COAL-FISH. (Pollachius car- 
bonarius.) Similar to the cod and often taken in company 
with it. Its color is a dark blackish green ; the fins are 
blackish brown. It has no barbel at the chin, or at most a 
very small one. Length one to three feet. Northern 
Atlantic, on the European and American coasts. 

96. THE CODLING or SQUIRREL-HAKE. (Phycis 

chuss.) Reddish brown ; the third ray of the first dorsal elon- 
gated ; the filamentous ventrals almost half as long as the 
body. It is sometimes very abundant on our coasts. Length 
one to three feet. Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras. 

97. THE SPOTTED CODLING. {Urophycis regius) 
The color of this fish is pale brown, the lateral line very 
conspicuous, alternately black and w T hite; the ventral fins 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 41 

■v 

are reduced to a single long ray divided at its end. A sin- 
gular habit of this fish is to lie for hours on its side, giving 
it the appearance of being sick. Length ten inches. Cape 
Cod to Cape Hatteras. 



Fam. — Pleuronectido?. 



The Pleuronectid/e or Flatfishes are common but very remark- 
able fishes, both in regard to their form and development. Most people 
would get the impression that Flatfishes lie on their belly, and that the 
darker colored back is directed upwards. This is a mistake, as a look at 
the fins and mouth will prove. The long dorsal and anal fins line the flat 
body, one each of the pectorals and abdominals is above, one below, 
and the jaws are placed as usual. Thus it is seen that Flatfishes lie on 
but one side. From this it follows that the sides are differently colored 
and, what is more remarkable, that both eyes are on one side of the 
head. These two anomalies do not exist in the young. Their form is 
symmetrical like that of other vertebrates : both sides are of the same 
light color, and one eye is on each side. But soon the eye on one side 
sinks into the head; a mark like a buttonhole appears at the opposite 
side, just above the other eye; the first one comes to sight again, and at 
the same time the change in the color of the sides is completed. 

Flatfishes are found on a bottom of sand and gravel, their sides partly 
covered with it so that it is difficult to detect them. Only their large, 
protruding, opalescent eyes, which can be moved singly, are easily dis- 
covered. For moving through short distances they use parts of their 
dorsal and anal fins, leaning on them and thus slightly pushing their 
body. Their swimming consists of graceful, undulatory movements 
which are very interesting to see. 

98. THE SPOTTED TURBOT. (Lophopsetta metadata) 
Dark olive brown; body and fins with numerous black 
spots; the anterior rays of the first dorsal fin with mem- 
branous slips. This fish is considered a delicate article of 
food, but seldom found in our markets. Its length gener- 
ally does not exceed fifteen inches, but sometimes speci- 
mens are caught that weigh twenty pounds. Cape Cod to 
Cape Hatteras. 

99. THE COMMON FLOUNDER. {Chcenopsetta ocu- 
laris) Olive brown; upper surface with spots, some of 
which are ocellated or. encircled by a lighter ring. This 
savory fish is abundant on our coasts during summer. 
Its length is from twelve to eighteen inches. 



42 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



100. THE RUSTY DAB. (Chanqpsetta oblonga) Nearly 
uniform brown ; occasionally with spots ; fins reddish 
brown ; caudal fin angulated. Common along our sandy 
shores, being abundant in September and October. Length 
fifteen to twenty inches. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. 

101. THE SPOTTED SOLE. {Achirus lineatus) Color 
greenish brown, with numerous black lines and blotches. 
No pectoral fins. This species is very common, but too 
small to be of much value for the table. When kept in a 
tank with a sandy or muddy bottom, it buries itself out of 
sight. Length three to six inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 



O rd er — Physostomi, 



F a m . — Silu ridtz . 



Numerous, mostly freshwater fishes, commonly called catfish, horned- 
pouts, and bullheads. They are easily known by their peculiar form : a 
broad head with thick lips and eight long, fleshy barbels, an unwieldy, 
thick and short body destitute of scales, and an adipose fin (a fin without 
rays or spines) situated between the dorsal and anal fins. They are slug- 
gish in their movements, particularly when full grown, and secure their 
prey more by alluring it to their resting places at the muddy bottom than 
by swiftness. Some species do not grow over eight inches in length, 
others attain a very large size and a weight up to two hundred and fifty 
pounds. The Aquarium had one specimen weighing one hundred and 
sixty pounds. 

102. THE COMMON CAT-FTSH. (Amiurus catus.) 
Dusky, sides of the head greenish, those of the body cupre- 
ous. Caudal nearly even and rounded. Length six to 
twelve inches. Abundant in lakes and streams. 

103. THE GREAT LAKE CAT-FISH. {Amiurus nigri- 
cans?) A large species from the great lakes ; upper jaw longer 
than the lower ; caudal fin deeply forked ; color plumbagi- 
nous. 

104. THE BROWN CAT-FISH. {Amiurus pullis) Uni- 
form dusky brown above, bluish white beneath. Abundant 
in the lakes of New York and eastward. 



105. THE SEA- WATER CAT-FISH. (Ailurichthys via- 
rinus.) This is a handsome, swift and voracious fish, with 
two very long, fleshy barbels at the angle of the mouth, 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



43 



and two smaller ones at the chin. The 

and considerably curved ; the caudal is crescent shaped. 



dorsal fin is high 



F a m . — Salmonida. 

This family comprises more than one hundred and sixty species; most 
of them are very valuable fishes, and famous for both their game character 
and palatable flesh. They have an elongated, handsome body covered 
with a prettily colored, scaly skin, a naked head, and mouth with strong 
teeth, no barbels, and a small adipose fin behind the dorsal. In the 
spawning season they ascend the rivers, some of them as high as the 
region of permanent snow. 

106. THE BROOK or SPECKLED-TROUT. (Salmo 
fontinalis.) Body olive, with blackish numerous red spots. 
It is an excellent and well known fish, affording high sport 
to the angler, and estimated in New York as the most relish- 
able of all fishes. Their color varies nearly as much as their 
flavor ; those of clear mountain streams being considered 
the best. Length six to twenty-four inches. The rivers and 
lakes of British North America and the northern parts of 
the United States are abundantly stocked with them. 

The Red-bellied Trout (Salmo erythrogaster) is a variety 
of the Brook Trout, with a reddish-orange abdomen. 

107. THE LAKE-TROUT, SALMON-TROUT, or 
Mx\CKINAW-TROUT. (Salmo namaycush.) Grayish in 
color and more or less spotted. Body stout and head very 
large. Length two to six feet. "His great size and im- 
mense strength alone" says Herbert, "give him value as a 
fish of game ; but when hooked, he pulls strongly and fights 
hard, though he is a boring, deep fighter, and, 1 think, never 
leaps out of the water like the true salmon or the brook- 
trout." Great lakes, north to the Arctic Seas. 

108. THE CALIFORNIA SALMON. (Salmo quinnat.) 
Head pointed and large, dorsal line regularly arched; cau- 
dal deeply cut out. This is the most important salmon of 
the western waters, both in excellence and numbers. Manv 
millions of its eggs have been transported during the last 
three years from California for distribution throughout the 
Eastern and Middle States. The Aquarium received in the 



44 



mew York aquarium. 



fall of 1876, 50,000 eggs from Spencer Baird, of the U. S. 
Fish Commission, which were successfully hatched and dis-' 
tributed in various adjacent waters. The same is done this 
season. The Pacific coast of North America, from San 
Francisco northward. 



Fam. — Esocidce. 

109. THE GREAT LAKE-PIKE. (Esox luciusvar.es- 
tor.) A beautiful fish, of an olive-green color, handsomely 
spotted with round yellowish spots as large as peas; each 
scale with a shining V-shaped mark opening sidewards. 
Length one to four feet. Great lakes and the headwaters 
of the Mississippi. 

110. THE MUSKALLUNGE. {Esox nobilior.) Grayish 
with white spots; cheeks and opercles half bare Length, 
one to six feet. Great lakes. 

111. THE PICKEREL. (Esox reticulata.) Green, with a 
network of brown streaks on the sides. Length, one to 
three feet. It is abundant in the streams of the Eastern 
and Middle States. 

112. THE PIKE. (Esox americanus.) This fish is of a dark 
green color. Its sides are marked with about twentv dis- 
tinct blackish bars. Its length is six to ten inches. It is 
found in the Atlantic streams of the Eastern and Middle 
States. 



Fam. — Cyprinodontidce. 

113. THE SHEEPSHEAD LEBIAS. (Cyprinodon varie- 
gatus.) A small fish with large scales, one inch high and 
two inches long. The female has irregular and blackish 
vertical spots on the body. The male is without these spots. 
It lives in salt and brackish streams in the neighborhood 
of New York. 

114. THE KILLIFISH. (Fundulus diaphanus) This fish 
abounds in all our salt water creeks (which our Dutch an- 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 45 

cestors called " kills ") and bays. It is two to five inches long, 
has a small, rounded caudal fin, a short and high dorsal placed on 
the posterior part of the body, and is of a greenish color. The 
male has many broad cross bands ; the female three more or 
less interrupted longitudinal bands. 



F am. — Heteropygii . 

115. THE BLIND FISH. (Typhlichthys subter ramus) . 
Several specimens of this interesting little fish were received 
from the famous Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. They are very 
small, not exceeding two inches in length, colorless, and with- 
out any ventral fins Their eyes are rudimentary and of no use. 
On the head and sides of the body there are prominent ridges 
consisting of minute papillae in which many nerves terminate. 
These papillae are delicate organs of touch, enabling the fish 
to feel its way in the eternal darkness of its surroundings. 
They will live for several months in quiet, clear, and well aerated 
water. 



Fam. — Cyprinidce. 

116. THE COMMON SUCKER. (Catostomus teres). A 
freshwater fish, having a long, rounded, tapering body, and 
thick, fleshy lips, of which the lower one is pendent. Length 
twelve to eighteen inches. It is abundant in our markets 
in autumn. 

117. THE LONG-FINNED CHUBSUCKER. (Carpiodes 
cyprinus). This fish has a slight resemblance to the European 
Carp, and is often called by that name in this country. It has 
a whitish skin and large scales ; the first rays of its dorsal fin 
are very much elevated and attenuated ; the mouth is inferior. 
Length twelve to twenty inches. Eastern lakes and rivers. 

118. THE GERMAN CARP. {Cyprinus carpio). A famous 
fish, from Germany, considered there as the most delicious and 
palatable of all fishes. Originally it was only found in some of 
the larger rivers, but many hundred years ago it was transported 
to artificial and natural ponds, and now it is spread over the 
larger part of Europe, some parts of Asia, and Australia. Those 
in our tanks were presented to the Aquarium by the well-known 



46 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

fish culturist, Herr von Hessels, who imported several thousands 
of them, in the spring of this year, for the United States Fish 
Commission. Of the numerous varieties, found in Europe, he 
selected the so-called King Carp (Cyprinus Rex Cyprinorum), 
which is more highly prized than all others. It has but a few 
scales of enormous size, the larger part of its skin being naked. 
The Carps are very tenacious of life, easily endure changes of 
temperature, and will successfully feed on all kinds of vegetable 
refuse. 

119. THE GOLD FISH. (Carassius auratus). No other 
fish is more widely distributed throughout the world than this. 
It was imported from China to England, by Philippe Worth, in 
the year 1728, was successfully bred and universally dis- 
tributed. There are many varieties of this fish exhibited in the 
New York Aquarium, some with double anal or caudal fins, 
some black, red, silvery white, or spotted. The most renowned 
of all varieties is that described in the following section : 

120. THE KINGIYO. This fish, together with seven 
others, was imported from Japan by Mr. Gill, of the firm of 
Martin, Gill & Co., large importers of tea from that country, 
and presented by him to the Aquarium. Too much can- 
not be said of the singular and unique beauty of this 
specimen. The sides of its thick and short body are re- 
splendent with the most brilliant golden and pearly hues. The 
caudal and anal fins united are nearly the length of the entire 
body, resembling the most delicate silken tissue; affords a 
splendid view as it slowly and solemnly floats through the 
water. Many visitors have expressed the opinion that this is 
the most remarkable and beautiful fish they had ever seen. 

121. THE LONG-TSING-YU, CHINESE QUADRUPLE 
TAIL, TELESCOPIC or DRAGON-EYED FISH. Four 
specimens of this valuable fish, which must be regarded as an- 
other variety of the Goldfish, were imported to this country by 
Messrs. Chas. Reiche & Bro. They have remarkably large, 
protruding eyes, which almost seem to be located outside of the 
head, and give to the small, lively, and gracefully-built fish a 
resemblance to the Hammerhead Shark. All our specimens 
came from China. 

122. THE BLACK-NOSED DACE. (Rhinichthys atrona- 
sus). A small fish, found abundantly in the streams and rivu- 
lets of New York and adjoining States. It is from one to three 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



47 



inches long, and is easily recognized by a black band that runs 
from the snout to the root of the caudal fin. 




THE KTNGIYO. 



120. THE ENGLISH ROACH. (Leuciscus rutilus). Some 
specimens of this fish were brought to this country by Capt. 



48 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

Mortimer, of the ship " Hamilton Fish," a gentleman of large 
experience and fine culture, and presented by him to the 
Aquarium. They belong to a genus that has representatives 
in Europe, Asia, and America. Our species has a silvery-white 
body, with red eyes and fins. 

124. THE SHINING DACE. (Leueiscus argenteus). A 
handsome fish, with an elongated and silvery-white body. The 
scales are large, and have blackish membranes at their base. 
Length three to eighteen inches. New England and New York. 

125. THE GERMAN TENCH or SCHLEIHE. (Tinea 

vulgaris). A dark-colored fish, with two small barbels and 
many thousands of small scales, deeply imbedded in a thick 
skin. In favorable light they shine with a golden, resplendent 
lustre. The Tench is found in muddy waters all over Europe. 
In Paris its scales are used to make artificial pearls. Our fishes 
were imported, together with the Carps, by Herr von Hessels. 

126. THE SHINER. (Notemigonus americanus). A beau- 
tiful little fish, with a very small head, and convex dorsal and 
abdominal outlines. It is greenish above, brilliantly lustrous 
white at the sides. Length three to six inches. New Eng- 
land, in bayous, ponds, and weedy streams. 



F a m . — ClupeidcR. 

127. THE MOSSBONKER or MENHADEN. (Bre- 
voortia menhaden). A very common fish, extensively used as 
manure, and as bait for Mackerel, Cod, and Halibut on the 
coast of Massachusetts. Its body is much compressed ; the 
surface silvery, with a prominent humeral spot. Length ten 
to fourteen inches. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras." 

128. THE SHAD. (Alosa sapidissima). A well-known, 
brilliantly shining fish, of most delicate taste. Millions of it 
are caught all along our Eastern coast. During spawning time 
it ascends the larger rivers, often as far as one hundred and fifty 
miles. 

F am. — Gymnotidce. 

129. THE COMMON EEL. (Anguilla Bostoniensis). 
This species is found not only near Boston, as the name seems 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 49 

to indicate, but everywhere on the coast and in the rivers of 
Northeast America, also in Japan, Formosa, and China. It is 
very variable in its colors : greenish, brownish, silvery gray, etc. 
Its length is from one to four feet. The eel was of great value 
to the Aquarium, as it afforded the principal food for the White 
Whales kept there. 

130. THE GREEN MARAY. {Muraena maculipinnis). 
The form and habits of this fish have a great resemblance to 
those of a large snake. It is from three to six feet long, has a 
cylindrical body without pectoral fins; the dorsal and anal fins 
are fleshy, low, and connected with each other ; the mouth is 
furnished with several rows of teeth, sufficiently large and 
sharp-pointed to inflict severe wounds. In Bermuda they 
catch it with a hook and line, and are very careful not to expose 
themselves to its bite, killing it as soon as it is caught. 

The Maray is nocturnal in its habits. In day-time it 
generally lies motionless in a corner of its tank. When dis- 
turbed, or brought into the neighborhood of other fishes, it dis- 
plays its very dangerous array of teeth. Then suddenly 
rushing upon its prey, it seizes and swallows it much as snakes 
do their food. The color of its body is green, but very dark, 
nearly black ; the dorsal fin has a narrow white edge. It is 
found in tropical latitudes of the Atlantic. Our specimen was 
brought from Bermuda. 



'&' 



131. THE SPECKLED MARAY. {Muraena moringa). 
The size, form, and habits of this species are the same as of the 
preceding one. Its body is grayish brown, with large, irregular 
dots and blotches of a white or yellowish color, which give it a 
very handsome appearance. 

In Bermuda (where we received a fine specimen), this fish is 
considered excellent food by the lower classes, but an impres- 
sion exists that at certain seasons its flesh is poisonous. Both 
species are near relatives to the Maray of the Mediterranean 
{^\furaena Zie/ena), made famous by the tales of ancient writers. 
They tell us that wealthy Romans kept these fishes in large, 
artificial ponds, and valued them so highly that one patrician 
magnate, Vedius Pollio, used to feed the flesh of his slaves to 
them. 

Order Lophobranchii. 

Fishes the gills of which are composed of small, rounded lobes at- 
tached to both sides of the bronchial arches. The gill opening is very 



5o 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



small. The body is covered by a dermal skeleton consisting of numer- 
ous pieces which are arranged in segments. The joints of these pieces 
are generally elevated and keeled. 

132. THE PIPE FISH. {Sygnathus peckianus). Body 
long and slender; the head protruding into a narrow, pipe-like 
snout, at the end of which the lower jaw moves like a projecting 
lid. When swimming, it generally keeps its body perpendicular, 
and moves only by handsome undulations of the long dorsal fin. 
The female deposits her eggs into a pouch on the tail of the 
male, covered by cutaneous folds. There they are kept until 
they develop. The newly-born young are not much thicker 
than a bristle. Length six to twelve inches. Newfoundland 
to Cape Hatteras. 




133. THE SEA HORSE. {Hippocampus hudsonius). A 
very interesting little fish, with a head resembling that of a 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 5 1 

horse, and a finless, prehensile tail. As with the preceding 
species, the male carries the eggs and young in a sac at the 
base of the tail. Its swimming power is very limited, obliging 
it to fasten itself to seaweed or other floating substances with 
which it is often carried by currents to great distances. Its 
food consists of small crustaceans like Mysis and allied species. 
These it slowly approaches and suddenly sucks into its pipe- 
like muzzle. It will also feed on the Serpula Dianthus. 
Length three to six inches. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. 



Order Plectognathi. Fam. — Sclerodentii. 

134. THE EUROPEAN FILE-FISH or BERMUDA 
TURBOT. (Batistes capriscns). A large, beautiful, and re- 
markably shaped fish. Its body is high and compressed ; its 
mouth very small ; its skin dusky brown, and unspotted, but 
with obliquely-crossing lines indicating the position of the large, 
rough, and prominent scales. Length twelve to eighteen 
inches. Atlantic Ocean, on European and American coasts. 

135. THE LONG-TAILED FILE-FISH. (Alutera cuspi- 
cauda). Body high, compressed, almost like a leaf. Skin 
brown, varied with orange, covered with minute asperities, 
making it rough like shagreen. Tail lancet-shaped, and nearly 
half as long as the body, the length of which is from five to 
eight inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 

136. THE MASSACHUSETTS FILE-FISH or FOOL- 
FISH. (Stephanolepis Massachusettensis). Brown, with ob- 
scure blackish spots or streaks. Length three to seven inches. 
Nova Scotia to Florida. 

137. THE COW-FISH. (Ostracion quadricomis). The 
appearance of this fish is very singular. The integuments of 
its body are modified into a three-ridged carapace composed 
of hexagonal, osseous scales ; only the snout-like mouth, the 
bases of the fins, and the hind part of the tail are covered by 
soft skin. Over each eye there is a prominent, conical spine, 
pointing straight forward, and giving it- the cow-like appear- 
ance. Another flat, prominent spine, directed backward, is 
situated on each ventral ridge. The color of the carapace is 
very handsome in full light, but changes a good deal. It is a 



52 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

rich bright blue, with reticulated brown lines, and light ocelli. 
After death the color quickly vanishes. 

The motions of the Cow-fish are slow and cautious. It often 
rests for hours at the bottom of the sea. It lives well in a large, 
well aerated tank, and feeds freely on shrimps and clams. 
Sometimes it ejects water from its mouth over the surface, to 
a distance of three or four feet. Its length is from twelve to 
twenty-one inches. Bermuda. 

138. THE TRIANGULAR FISH or CUCKOLD. 
{Ostracion triqueter). Similar in shape and organization to 
the preceding species, but smaller, seldom exceeding eight 
inches, without spines, and differently colored. It is dark 
brown, with many yellowish-white circular spots. Its motions 
are livelier than those of the Cow-fish, though it is not a rapidly 
swimming fish. Its broad, pectoral fins are constantly moving, 
their chief function apparently being to fan a current of water 
through the gills- "When taken from the water," says G. 
Brown Goode, '"one of these fishes will live for two or three 
hours, all the time solemnly fanning its gills, and when restored 
to its native element, seems none- the worse for its experiences, 
except that, on account of the air absorbed, it cannot at once 
sink to the bottom." Like the Cow-fish, it has the habit of 
throwing water over the surface, suddenly projecting its fleshy 
lips and causing a small body of water to fly through the air. 
West Indies and Bermuda Islands. 



F am. — Gymnodonies. 

Fishes with a short body. The bones of the jaws instead of bearing 
teeth are themselves transformed into a sharp, cutting beak, the upper 
and lower part of which is sometimes divided by a median suture. They 
have no ventral fins, and the other fins are small and soft. 

139. THE ROUGH PUFFER or SWELL-FISH. 
{Chilichthys turgidus). Olive green; the surface roughened 
with prickles ; body oblong and cylindrical. This fish is 
abundant on our coast, and derives its name from the swollen, 
ball-like shape it takes when removed from the water and 
rubbed with the hand. It is of no value for the table. Length 
six to twelve inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 

140. THE PORCUPINE-FISH or SEA-HEDGEHOG. 
{Paradiodon hystrix). The peculiar armor of this fish, and its 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 53 

capability to swallow either air or water, thereupon assuming 
the form of a ball, have attracted general attention. It is 
abundant in the West Indies, and is found in the tropical and 
subtropical latitudes of other oceans. Two specimens were 
brought from Bermuda to the Aquarium. They were eighteen 
inches long, having a very thick body, a high and broad, nearly 
quadrangular, head, and were covered with long spines, the 
greater number of which were capable of being erected. 

141. THE SPINY BOX-FISH or BALLOON-FISH. 

[Chilomycterus geometricus). Greenish, with numerous wind- 
ing, brown stripes, and a few dark- colored blotches. The sur- 
face is covered with short, partly movable spines. This fish is 
able to inflate itself with water or air, taking the form of a ball 
in both instances. When the inflation is with water it falls to 
the bottom, with air it rises upside down to the surface. 
Length five to seven inches. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. 



Subclass Ganoidei. 
Order — Holosteu Fam. — Amiidce. 

142. THE FRESHWATER DOG-FISH or MUD-FISH. 
(Amia calvd). Color dark olive, with greenish markings at the 
sides. The male has a roundish black spot on the caudal fin ; 
the female, which is of larger size, is without this mark. Its 
body is oblong and stout, the jaws are broad, rounded, and sup- 
plied with strong teeth. The dorsal fin is very long. 

This fish is very interesting on account of its manner of 
breathing. It possesses a real lung, or rather a part of its air- 
bladder acts as a lung. It frequently comes to the surface 
either to inhale or exhale air. Its respiration in this way re- 
sembles that of the proteus and of the earlier stages of frogs, 
toads, and salamanders, which have both lungs and gills. Its 
flesh is soft and pasty, but not edible. In some regions it is 
called "The Lawyer," because " it will bite at anything, and 
is good for nothing when caught." 



m Fam. — Lepidosteida. 

143. THE GAR-PIKE. (Lepidosteus osseus). The body 
of this fish is covered with hard, enameled, lozenge-shaped, 



54 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

shining plates, a peculiarity which is found m a very large 
proportion in the earlier fossil fishes, but which is exceed- 
ingly scarce now. Another remarkable peculiarity is, that the 
Gar Pike, like the preceding fish, uses part of its air-bladder as 
a lung, and comes to the surface to breathe. 

Its body is elongated and cylindrical ; its head is prolonged 
into a long and bony snout, exceeding in length twice the rest 
of the head. The color of the body is olive, with numerous 
black spots that are most conspicuous in the fins. Length one 
to five feet. It is abundant in the larger bodies of water in the 
North-eastern States. 



Order — Chondrostei. Fam. — Acipenseridce. 

Fishes with an elongated fusiform body, the skin of which is devoid of 
scales, but covered with five rows of bony plates. The mouth lies at the 
lower side of the protruding snout, is transverse, protractile, and tooth- 
less. There is a tow of four barbels in front of the mouth. The tail has 
two unequal lobes, the upper one being the larger. 

144. THE SHARP-NOSED or COMMON SEA-STUR- 
GEON. {Acipenser sturio). This is a handsome fish, with a 
very peculiar form. It has the appearance of a gallant knight, 
covered with a showy armor, but its habits do not agree with 
this appearance of valor. It lies much at the bottom, to which 
the heavy body, burdened by the bony shields, drag it, and 
there, by means of its four barbels and protractile mouth, it 
finds its food, which consists of vegetation and decayed animal 
matter. In spring it is found at the confluence of rivers where 
sometimes specimens of fifteen feet in length are caught. The 
meat, eggs (for caviar), and swimming-bladder (for isinglass) are 
extensively used. Atlantic Ocean, ascending rivers. 

145. THE BLUNT-NOSED STURGEON. {Acipenser 
brevirostris). The snout, which in the foregoing species is 
pointed, and measures half the length of the head, is blunt in 
this one, and reaches but a quarter of the length of the head. 
There are 11-13 dorsal plates in A. sturio, 8-^0 in A. brevi- 
rostris; 37-44 dorsal rays in the first one, 30 in the latter. 
Cape Cod to Florida. 



new york aquarium. 55 

Subclass Chondroptervgii. 

Order — Plagiostomata. Fam. — SclacJioidei. 

Fishes with an elongated and nearly fusiform bod)'. Their skin con- 
tains an immense number of small ossifications, making it rough and 
shagreen-like. The pectoral fins are separated from the head (united 
with it in the Rays). They are easily recognized, as the elongated 
snout gives them a very marked appearance. The mouth, situated at 
the lower surface of the head, is armed with several rows of formidable 
teeth. There are five narrow gill-openings at each side of the neck. 

This family of fishes comprises among its 125 members the largest and 
most dangerous of all. The majority of them are small, measuring from 
three to five feet, but some attain the size of thirty feet and a weight of 
two thousand pounds. They are the frequent companions of ocean vessels, 
devour whatever is thrown overboard, from the meanest article of food to 
man himself, don't reject even iron or wood and really take into their 
capacious stomach, without selection, whatever they are able to swallow. 
This voracious character, together with their danger to human life, creates 
an enmity towards them among sailors the world over. In their mutual 
strife it is a case of " no quarter." 

146. THE BLUE SHARK. {Eulamta Milberti\ A fish 
not over five feet long, which hangs around the fishermen's 
quarters, and feeds on offal and dead fish. It is sometimes de- 
structive to the pounds by the force of mere numbers. Cape 
Cod to Florida. 

147. THE SMOOTH DOG-FISH. (Mustelus cams). A 
fish of slender form, from one and a half to four feet long, in 
color a dull, ashy gray above, white beneath. The name is de- 
rived from the skin, which is smoother than in any other kind of 
shark, the ossifications being extremely small. It generally keeps 
near the bottom, where it feeds on crustaceans, the shell or 
crust of which is easily broken by their numerous and pointed 
teeth. It sometimes swarms in vast numbers around and into 
the fishermen's nets, particularly on the Massachusetts coast 
at Menemsha-bight. Hundreds of boys and girls are employed 
to take out the livers, which are used in the manufacture of 
fish-oil. The bodies are afterwards used as manure by the 
farmers. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. 

148. THE MACKEREL SHARK. (Isuropsis Dekayi). A 
powerful fish with one very large and one small dorsal fin, and 
a keel on both sides of the tail. Its length is from four to 
eight feet. It follows the shoals of mackerel so regjlarly that 



56 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

the fishermen watch it and are guided by its movements in 
throwing out their nets. Newfoundland to Florida. 

149. THE PICKED DOG-FISH. (Squalus americanus). 
A gray-colored Shark of one to three feet in length, with a 
strong spine in front of the two dorsal fins. It is the most common 
shark on the eastern coast of America, particularly near New- 
foundland, where, in spring and autumn, it forms an important 
fishery for the oil which it furnishes. The fishermen avoid this 
shark, as it is very skillful in inflicting ugly wounds with its 
spines. These it dashes violently into its enemy by bending 
the dorsal side down and suddenly straightening it again. 
During nine or ten months in the year the female daily brings 
forth a young one six to eight inches long. The half developed 
eggs, which are covered by a transparent, brownish shell, can be 
cut out of the female and kept alive in sea- water for several 
days. The constantly swinging body, with the bright red ex- 
ternal gills, and the tender blood lines which encircle the yolk 
and bring nourishment to the young, form a highly interesting 
preparation. 



Fam. — Batoidei or Rays. 

They resemble Sharks in their organization, but not in their external 
form. The body has a round or rhomboid form, the sides of which aie 
represented by the large pectoral fins which are attached to the hind part 
of the head. The snout is pointed and elongated ; the mouth, nostrils, 
and gill openings are situated at the lower, the eyes and the spiracles 
(small apertures behind the eyes) at the upper surface. The latter con- 
duct new water to the gills when the rays lie at the bottom and have 
their mouths closed, or when they feed. The narrow and long tail gene- 
rally has two dorsal and one anal fin ; the latter heterocercal or unequal 
in its lobes. Their eyes show a very remarkable peculiarity, consisting 
of a fringed curtain that hangs down from t] e upper border of the iris 
and covers part of the pupil. The eggs of the Rays are wider than tl'ose 
of the Sharks, have a less transparent case, and resemble flat cushions, 
with long, coiled strings at the four corners. When deposited, the fe- 
male takes the egg into her mouth and fastens it to seaweed, rocks, 
oyster-shells and the like. 

150. THE TORPEDO, CRAMP-FISH, or NUMB-FISH. 

(Torpedo occidentalis). This fish is renowned for its electric 
power. The electric organs lie on both sides of the head, or 
between the pectoral fins and the head, and consist of numer- 
ous small boxes resembling bee- cells, which are filled with a 
gelatinous substance. Many tender nerves enter these boxes 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



57 



from one side and, near the surface, form a complicated net- 
work of nervous cells and fibres. The side covered by the 
nervous network is the same in all the boxes, either the upper 
or the lower one, and thus an electric current is established be- 
tween the two opposite sides. The surface with the network is 
found to be electro-positive, the other electro-negative. The 
electric shocks which this species can give are not dangerous, 
though very sharp. Fishermen are fond of making fun with it. 
The body of the Torpedo is a broad, smooth disk. The tail 
nas a longitudinal fold along each side. It is found, in small 
numbers, from Cape Cod to Florida. . 

151. THE PRICKLY RAY. {Rata amertcana). Brown 
and unspotted, with pointed groups of prickles on the upper 




^-JS^jU^a^l^fc^tF-I; 1P8S!|§||P 






surface, and four series of spines along the tail, 
from one to two feet. Cape Cod to Florida, 



Its length is 



58 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

ir>2. THE BARNDOOR SKATE. {Rata lavis). Light 
brown and unspotted, with small spines on the orbits and an- 
terior margins of the pectoral fins. It has three rows of spines 
on the tail. The rest of the body is smooth, and is from two 
to four feet in length. Nova Scotia to Florida. 

153. THE SPOTTED RAY. (Rata ocellata) Light brown, 
with numerous ocellated black spots. Its length is two to 
three feet. It is caught with a hook in company with the Cod. 
New England coasts. 

154. THE STING-RAY, WHIP-RAY, or STINGA- 
REE. {Trygon centrum). Above, its color is olive brown, be- 
neath, white, tail longer than the body, and armed with two or 
more spines. The total length of this fish is from five to eight 
feet. When captured it violently whips its tail about, the spines 
of which can inflict ugly and dangerous wounds. Fishermen 
pronounce it poisonous. Cape Cod to Florida. 

155. THE BUTTERFLY RAY. (Pteroplatea maclura). 
Above, the color is greenish blue, with pale spots, below, it is 
pale red. Its body is twice as broad as long. Its tail is very 
short. Its mode of swimming is very interesting, the flapping 
of the large sides reminding one of the motions of flying birds 
and butterflies. Cape Cod to Florida. 

156. THE COW-NOSED RAY. (Rhi?ioptera quadrilobd). 
This Ray differs from most of its relatives by having the head 
free from the pectoral fins. It is provided, however, with a 
pair of rayed appendages to the head called cephalic fins by 
some naturalists. Its tail is very slender, with a dorsal fin be- 
fore the serrated spine. It is caught in the vicinity of New 
York, and is said to be very troublesome to the amateur fisher- 
man, as it runs off with his bait and spoils his line. Cape Cod 
to Florida. 



Subclass Cyclostomi. 



These fishes are, with one exception, the Lancelet, the lowest and 
most imperfectly built of all. They have a cartilaginous skeleton, no 
ribs, limbs, shoulder girdle, nor pelvic elements, no real jaws, no scales, 
only one nostril, and their gills have the form of fixed sacs. Their mouth 
is nearly circular, and provided with many acute labial teeth. In their 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 59 

> 

manner of feeding the}' resemble the leech. They fasten themselves to 
other fishes by suction, and feed by scraping off their flesh. The young 
are without teeth, have rudimentary eyes, and undergo a metamorphosis. 

157. THE SEA LAMPREY. (Petromyzon americanus). 
Body olive green, mottled with dark brown ; seven round gill 
openings on each side. Length four to six inches. Cape Cod 
to Cape Hatteras, ascending rivers. 

158. THE SMALL LAMPREY. {Ammocoetes appendix). 
Yellowish ; the seven gill openings are elongated ; the anal fin 
has a thread-like appendix on its anterior portion. Length 
four to six inches. Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras, ascending 
rivers. 



Crustacea. 

159. THE FIDDLER or SOLDIER CRAB. {Gelasimus 
pugnax). An amusing little crab, with one claw longer than 
the whole carapace. It lives in muddy, banks and in ditches 
in salt-marshes, sometimes in such numbers that all around 
where they congregate it is perfectly honeycombed. When one 
crab goes into the hole of another a lively fight follows, and not 
un frequently a general commotion takes place, after which each 
one gets into the first hole he can find. Cape Cod to Florida. 

160. THE ROCK CRAB. {Cancer irroratus). Larger 
than the preceding, sometimes measuring three or four inches 
across the shell, and easily distinguished by having nine blunt 
teeth at the outside of each eye. It is found on rocky and 
sandy shores and bottoms, and is, like all the other species of 
crabs, greedily devoured by many of the larger fishes, such as 
cod, haddock, tautog, black bass, sharks, and sting-rays. Lab- 
rador to South Carolina. 

161. THE MUD CRAB. {Panopeus depressus). A small 
crab, not exceeding two inches in length, with a flattened body 
and large, unequal claws on the two front feet. It lives on 
oyster-beds, and is believed to feed on the spawn of the oyster. 
Cape Cod to Florida. 

162. THE GREEN CRAB. {Carcinas mamas). This crab 
is found in abundance on very different places along our coasts, 
chiefly on rocky, sandy, and muddy shores and in brackish 



60 NEW YUKK AQUARIUM. 

waters. It is cosmopolitan in its habits, lives among the oysters 
in muddy places, or hides itself in the cavities made by fiddler- 
crabs in the ditches and streams of the salt marshes. Our 
specimens are about two inches long, and have a dark-green 
carapace with five teeth on the anterior margin at the outside of 
each eye. They are voracious and dexterous, tear the food out 
of the claws of large Hermit crabs, and are bold enough to put 
one of their large claws between the valves of different shell- 
fishes to pick out the soft body from the interior. Cape Cod 
to Florida. 

163. THE LADY CRAB. (Platyonichus ocellatus). This 
is a very handsome crab, both in form and color. Its cara- 
pace is almOst as wide as long. Its eyes are situated on long 
stalks, enabling them to protrude upward to the water when the 
animal is totally buried in the sand. "The Lady Crab," says 
Verrill, " is predaceous in its habits, feeding upon various 
smaller creatures, but, like most of the crabs, it is also fond of 
dead fishes or any other dead animals. In some localities they 
are so abundant that a dead fish or shark will, in a short time, 
be completely covered with them ; but if a person should ap- 
proach they will all suddenly slip off backwards and quickly 
disappear in every direction beneath the sand. After a short 
time, if everything be quiet, immense numbers of eyes and an- 
tennae will be gradually and cautiously protruded from beneath 
the sand, and, after their owners have satisfied themselves that 
all is well, the army of crabs will s:on appear above the sand 
again, and continue their operations." 

Sometimes they are seen actively swimming near the surface 
of the water, their last pair of feet being flat and wide and per- 
fectly adapted to this motion. Their ground-color is white or 
gray, but almost entirely covered with annular spots formed by 
minute red and purple specks, which give it a very handsome 
appearance. Its length is six inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 

164. THE BLUE or EDIBLE CRAB. {Callinecies has- 
iatus). Like the Lady Crab, this one has a pair of flattened 
legs which it can use to good purpose in swimming. The larger 
ones are commonly found among the eel-grass on muddy bot- 
toms, and in brackish water. They are easily distinguished 
by their brilliant blue color, and by the large, sharp spine on 
each side of the carapace. They are caught in great numbers 
for the market, those having recently shed their shells, the soft- 
shelled crabs, being especially in demand. Cape Cod to Florida, 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



61 




? C0KATOR z^-^-^f^ ^#$K& ^l C^ 8 



165. THE SPIDER CRAB. {Libinia canaliculatd). This 
crab has a comparatively small carapace and very long legs, re- 
minding one of the spider. The larger specimens, sometimes 
measuring a foot and more across the extended legs, are very 
sluggish in their movements, and conceal themselves in mud 
and decaying weeds, and hydroids, algae, and even barnacles 
grow on them. The smaller specimens, when kept in a clear tank 
where they cannot conceal themselves, cover their back with 
particles of ulvse, sponge, or whatever they can get. They pinch 
suitable pieces off with their claws, bring it to their mouth, cover 
the base of it with a kind of glue, and paste it deliberately on 
their back. Our tanks show several with pieces of red and 
gray sponge, green ulvse and small shells, and often we are 
asked by visitors why we (?) had pasted on them such a mix- 
ture of ornaments. From their habits they received the by- 
name of "decorating spider crabs." Maine to Florida.' 

166. THE LONG- ARMED HERMIT CRAB. (Eupagurus 
longocarpus) . This active and interesting little crab is well 
known to sea-side visitors from its habit of living in empty 
shells, in order to protect its soft hinder parts. It is very pug- 
nacious, always ready to fight with one of its kind, but after the 
first encounter both retreat as far as possible into their shell 
and cover the aperture with the large claw. A remarkable cir 
cumstance in their organization is a lack of symmetry, or one- 
sidedness. Not only their claws, but the two sides of the whole 



62 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

body are unequal in size, so as to fit closely in spiral shells. 
They are found abundantly in pools near low water, and on 
muddy, rocky, or sandy bottoms in deep water, where they are 
eagerly sought by fishes, which swallow them shell and all. 
Massachusetts to South Carolina. 

167. THE SHORT-ARMED HERMIT CRAB. {Eu- 

pagurus pollicaris). This species attains a larger size, and con- 
sequently inhabits larger shells, such as pear-snails, natica, 
heros, etc. Its claws are shorter and thicker than those of 
the long-armed crab. It is devoured by sharks and sting-rays. 
Massachusetts to Florida 

168. THE LOBSTER. {Homarus americanus). It is very 
interesting to watch the movements of this common but 
strangely-shaped animal, to observe how cautiously he ap- 
proaches a new inhabitant of the tank, how carefully he selects 
the safest corner, always ready to protect himself by his huge 
shears, and how suddenly he flaps his tail and glides backwards 
through the water. There is a handsome variety in one of the 
cement tanks, a lobster of a sky-blue color without any dark 
shade ; another variety, entirely scarlet, a present of Gen. Jar- 
dine, was kept for a few days in the same tank. The latter re- 
sembled a boiled lobster, and many visitors would not believe 
it to be alive until they saw it moving. 

These varieties show that there are two colors in the crust of 
a lobster, blue and red. Generally the latter is partly covered 
by the former, producing a color that is neither blue nor red 
Only in a few instances, like those of our red and blue speci- 
mens, does nature restrict itself to one color. The lobster is 
caught abundantly on the coast of the Northeastern States and 
in the Bay of Fundy. 

169. THE CRAWFISH. (Cambarus Bartonii and allied 
species). This is the largest of freshwater crustaceans. It re- 
sembles the lobster, except in its size and in some minor par- 
ticulars, as, for instance, the form of the last plate of the tail, 
which is divided, while it is entire in the lobster. American 
freshwater crustaceans, though numerous in species, are but 
scarce in number, and are seldom found in the market or known 
as an article of food. In Europe similar crawfishes are regu- 
larly for sale in such months as are spelled without an "r," the 
reverse of the rule that governs the sale of oysters. 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 6$ 

The crawfish is remarkable for its mode of swimming. It 
flaps* its' abdomen (erroneously but usually called the tail) 
against its breast, and by this means swims rapidly backwards, 
while it uses its numerous legs for forward or lateral motion. 
Often it is found at a considerable distance from the streams, 
using occasional pools, or burrowing through a moist surface in 
order to reach water below. It feeds upon animal matter, both 
dead and alive, and is so eager for carrion that Audubon called 
it a "little aquatic vulture." 

170. THE BLIND CRAWFISH. {Cambarus pellucidus). 
We received a few of these animals from the renowned Mam- 
moth Cave of Kentucky. They lived for several months, being 
kept in a large glass globe, and though exposed to the light, 
there was no perceptible change in their yellowish gray color. 
Their eyes were seen to show externally all the peculiarities of 
the eye of a crawfish, having a movable peduncle, or stem, to 
the end of which a cornea was attached. But the microscope 
showed this cornea to be partly opaque and without that pe- 
culiar structure which enables an animal to get distinct optical 
impressions. The power of vision in these fishes is lost by 
disuse. 

171. THE SPINY LOBSTER. (Palinurus vulgaris). A 
native of Bermuda, and distinguished from the common lobster 
by its red color, the spiny carapace, and the want of pincers 
or shears on the large legs. The same species is caught on the 
south-European coasts of the Atlantic and Mediterranean, sent 
to the market in large quantities, and is as highly appreciated 
as our lobster. The female carries its eggs under the abdo- 
men, and in the same way that the crawfish and common lob- 
ster do, but the young are so different from the parent lobster, 
that until recently they were considered to be entirely different 
animals, and were described as glass shrimps, or Phyllosoma. 

172. THE FLAT LOBSTER. (Scyllarus aequinoxialis) . 
The body, the antennae, and the tail plates are flat and broad ; 
the feet are very short. This crab is very quiet, likes to bury 
itself out of sight, and does not live well in a tank. Its color 
is dark red. Length eight to twelve inches. Bermuda Islands. 

173. THE SAND SHRIMP. (Crangon vulgaris). It is 
found in immense numbers on sandy flats, in tide pools, 
and on the sandy bottoms in deeper water. Numerous fishes 



64 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

feed on it, such as the weak-fish, king-fish, blue-fish, flounder, 
striped bass, sea-robin, toad-fish, etc. If it were not such a 
prolific species it might be extinguished in a short time. In 
dangerous places it buries itself partially in the sand. The 
appearance of the sand shrimp in a tank with clear water 
plainly shows how the beauty of an animal and the interest it 
inspires depends upon its being seen in natural condition. He 
who knows the shrimp only as he sees it in the market-basket, 
will hardly believe that the handsome, transparent creature 
with beautiful caudal plates is naught but the little, dark gray 
mass of salted morsel with an ugly agglomeration of crooked 
legs he used to know under this name. It is found on both 
sides of the northern Atlantic Ocean. 

174. THE SILVER-SHRIMP. (Pandanus annulicornis) . 
Sold for fish-bait in the New York markets. It lives well in 
the tanks, is useful as a scavenger and as food for nearly all 
fishes. Northern Atlantic. 

175. THE COMMON PRAWN. {Palamonetes vulgaris). 
Similar to the former, but easily distinguished by its bigger 
body and by the possession of a denticulated spine at the 
front. It is found in countless numbers among the eel-grass in 
brackish waters, and on many other places from Massachusetts 
to the Carolinas. For the table it is preferred to the shrimp. 

170. THE LOCUST- CRAB. (Squilla empusa). This is a 
very peculiar and interesting creature, living on muddy bot- 
toms, and probably burrowing out of sight for the larger part 
of the year. It is sometimes caught in considerable numbers 
among the ice at the mouth of the Hudson. Its length, when 
full grown, is eight or ten inches. In our tanks they swim very 
lively during day-time, bend their body to a half circle, move 
their numerous feet incessantly with astonishing rapidity, and 
feed during the night. Cape Cod to Florida. 

177. IDOTEA C^ECA. Lives parasitic on fishes, and was 
taken off in great numbers from drum-fishes, striped bass, and 
others. Massachusetts to Florida. 

178. LIVONECA OVALIS. Taken off the gills of striped 
bass. 

179. LERNEOLEMA RADIATA. Parasitic on moss- 
bonkers, striped bass, and other fishes. 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



65 



180. THE BARNACLE. (Balanus balanoidcs). This ani- 
mal resembles a low, blunt cone fastened to stones or shells. 
Periodically a small, hardly perceptible bunch of fine threads 
is thrown out from the upper end and quickly drawn back 
again. These threads, which are twenty-four in number, are 
the divided and minutely articulated legs of which the barna- 
cle has six on each side. By their movements it draws water and 
food into its shell. The young are quite different from the old 
ones, and are able to swim. After fastening themselves they 
not only lose the ability to swim, but also the eye, and thus 
constitute an example of retrograde metamorphosis through 
which the individual loses and the species gains, as the power 
of reproduction inheres in the Barnacle only in its advanced 
condition of life. 




THE HORSE-SHOE CRAB. 



66 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

181. THE GOOSE-BARNACLE, (Lepas fasticularis). 
Found in Wood's Hole on floating timber. Lived a short time 
in the tanks. 

182. THE HORSE-SHOE CRAB or KING-CRAB. 
(Zimulus polyphemus). Common on sandy shores, just below 
water-mark ; more abundant still on muddy bottoms, where it 
buries just beneath the surface and feeds upon various small 
animals. The upper side of this large crab at first sight shows 
nothing but two large shields and a long spine, the lower shield 
exhibiting a complicated agglomeration of legs. Looking 
closer, two large eyes are found on the front shield, and two 
smaller eyes are lying in front of them. The mouth, situated 
at the lower surface, is surrounded by six pairs of differently 
shaped legs, the claws of which are employed to seize the food 
and conduct it to their own basal parts in order to be crushed 
and lacerated by them. The same organs combine the triple 
function of moving, seizing the food, and preparing it for di- 
gestion. The hinder part of the lower side carries another 
dozen of legs, which also have a double function. They act as 
swimming organs, and at the same time cause a current of water 
to flow to the gills. 

The usual motion of the King-crab is slow crawling ; their 
swimming is awkward, and easily interrupted by trivial causes. 
This accounts for the frequency with which they are found 
struggling On their backs. Their spawning season is in June 
and July. They are found from Maine to Florida. 



Annelida. 

183. LEPIDONOTUS SUBLEVIS. Found at Martha's 
Vineyard. It lives well in a tank, but hides away out of sight. 

184. THE SANDWORM. (Nereis pelagicd). Sold in the 
market as fish-bait. In the tanks it buries out of sight, feeds 
at night, and is very destructive to Algae. 

185. POTAMILLA OCULIFERA. Attached to scollop- 
shells. 

186. EUCHONE ELEGANS. A beautiful creature, intro- 
duced in our tanks from Wood's Hole. 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 6j 

187. THE CLINKER. (Scrpula dianthus). Worms which 
surround themselves with a calcareous, variously crooked tube, 
and live in colonies on stones and shells. Generally their red, 
comb-like gills protrude from the opening of the tube, but they 
quickly draw them back and close the tube with a hard, pur- 
plish cover when they are frightened by a knock at the glass, or 
otherwise disturbed. They are found from Cape Cod to Great 
Egg Harbor. 



Mollusca. 

188. THE EIGHT-FOOTED POLYP or DEVIL-FISH. 
{Octopus vulgaris). We received several of these very interesting 
animals from Bermuda, but they all died after being only a few 
days in the tanks. 

Their body consists of a large bag, a small head with two 
big eyes, and eight long arms connected with each other by an 
intermediate skin at their base. They breathe by taking the 
water through a wide opening at the base of the bag into two 
large gills, and ejecting it again through a short and thick 
siphon. The latter current at the same time serves as the 
moving power of the animal. 

One specially attractive feature of the Devil-fish is the pos- 
session of several hundreds of sucking disks distributed in two 
rows on each arm. Each disk is a short, thick cylinder, the 
center of which can be raised so as to establish a vacuum be- 
tween itself and the part to which it adheres. The sucking 
power of a medium-sized Devil-fish, one of about three feet in 
length, is large enough to enable it to move stones of forty 
pounds weight. As the weight of a man in water is about five 
pounds, it would be no difficulty for a large Octopus to drag 
him under water. The food of the Octopus consists of shells, 
crustaceans, and occasionally fishes. It surrounds and covers 
its prey with its arms so completely as to prevent even a large- 
sized, healthy lobster from using its powerful claws. 

. 189. THE GIANT DEVIL-FISH. (Architeuthis princeps) . 
We take leave to insert in this place the following very interest- 
ing letter of Prof. A. E. Verrill, the naturalist who discovered 
this species : 



68 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

Peabody Museum of Yale College, i 
New Haven, Conn., Oct. n, 1877. ) 

Messrs. Chas. Reiche & Brother, 

New York Aquarium. 

Gentlemen : — Thanks to your courtesy, I yesterday had an 
opportunity to examine the " giant squid " or " devil fish " now 
preserved in the New York. Aquarium, and to make careful 
measurements of its parts. Having made a special study of 
these remarkable animals during several years past, and having 
previously examined and described all the fragments of similar 
creatures preserved in the museums of this country, I am able 
to say that this is altogether the largest, most complete, and 
most valuable specimen of this ki?id that has ever been preserved 
either in this country or in Europe. Moreover, it is a very 
rare species, previously known to scientific men only by 
the jaws taken from the stomach of a sperm whale, which were 
first described and figured by me three years ago under the 
name of Architeuthis prificeps. When first captured your speci- 
men was carefully measured by my correspondent, the Rev. M„. 
Harvey, of St. Johns, Newfoundland, who, in a private letter, 
states that the body was 9^ feet long including the head, and 
the longest arms were 30 feet in length, making the total length 
39^ feet. The circumference of the body was seven feet. In 
preserving creatures of this kind, either in brine or alcohol, 
they always shrink very much in bulk and lose most of their 
natural color and form. Your specimen having been brought 
to New York, in brine, and since its arrival having been kept in: 
strong alcohol, has necessarily contracted considerable in size 
already, and will probably shrink still more after some weeks. 
The body, originally plump and round, has also collapsed and 
become flat I yesterday found that the long arms are now 24 
feet and 1 inch long, with the broader terminal portion bearing 
the suckers 3 feet in length and 3 inches in breadth ; the larger 
suckers, now mostly destroyed, were about an inch in diameter. 
These suckers, with many smaller ones along the borders and at 
the end of the arms, were provided with strong, bony rims with 
the edge cut into numerous sharp teeth to prevent the suckers 
from slipping when applied to the slippery skin of the fishes 
upon which they prey. Below these serrated suckers, and ex- 
tending along the inner surface of the arms for sixteen feet, 
there are many small suckers, with smooth rims, together with 
wart-like tubercles which fit into the suckers of the opposite 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 69 

arms. These are intended to fasten the two long arms sjecqrely 
together so that they can be used conjointly and thus more 
effectually secure large prey. 

The longest of the eight stouter arms around the mouth were 
originally 11 feet long and 17 inches in circumference at the 
base, tapering gradually to the tips. I found them io£ feet long 
and 11^ inches in circumference. These arms are all covered, 
along their inner surface, with large suckers arranged in two 
rows, and provided with sharp-toothed rims, the largest being 
an inch in diameter. The jaws form a large and powerful black 
beak, shaped like a parrot's, and capable of being protruded 
beyond the head when living. With this beak they doubtless 
instantly kill their prey when caught by biting out a piece from 
the back of the neck, thus severing the spinal cord, as their 
relatives, the small squids, are known to do. The upper jaw, 
measured by me, was 5J inches long, and 3 and 3-J broad; the 
lower jaw was 3} inches long and 3-I broad. The upper jaw 
shuts into the lower, unlike the beaks of birds. It is practically 
impossible to obtain these giant squids in a perfect condition, 
for they are very shy and very tenacious of life, and living en- 
tirely in deep water, they are seldom or never seen unless dis- 
abled. 

There is but one solitary instance on record of a specimen in 
good health being captured, and that was very badly mutilated 
by the fishermen before they could take it from the rocks in 
which it had accidentally become entangled. That one was 
considerably smaller than your specimen, and is now, in part, 
preserved in the Peabody Museum of Yale College, but its body 
was entirely destroyed. Most of the few specimens hitherto seen 
have, like your example, been found cast upon the remote 
shores of Newfoundland after severe gales, and are generally 
badly damaged when found. 

Very respectfully yours, 

A. E. VERRILL, 
Professor of Zoology in Yale College* 



190. THE WHELK. (Buccinum undatiirri). Dredged at 
Georgias Bank, Mass., in forty fathoms. It did not live well 
in the tanks. The shells are favorites of the Hermit-crabs. 



70 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

191. THE WINKLE. {Sycotypus canaliculars). This is 

one of the largest shells on the eastern coast of North America, 
sometimes measuring seven inches in length. It is pear-shaped, 
and has a wide opening which continues in a narrow channel. 
Its eggs are contained in membranous cases of about the size 
and thickness of a two-cent piece, united together in a parallel 
position by a ligamentous string about two feet in length. Each 
case contains about two hundred eggs, but only a few of them 
develop young ones, which, when brought out, in the first 
weeks of their existence, feed upon the unmatured eggs of the 
same case. It is astonishing that one snail is able to produce 
such an enormous quantity of eggs and cases, the bodily mass 
of which seems to be greater than the body of the snail itself. 
It is found from Cape Cod to Florida. 

192. THE LARGE WINKLE. (Fulgur car ica). This is, 
according to Binney, the largest convoluted shell on the Atlan- 
tic coast. It is found in company with the preceding species, 
but less abundantly. Its form is nearly the same, but it can 
easily be distinguished by a circular series of triangular, com- 
pressed tubercles just above the opening. The strings of egg- 
cases resemble those of the former, and are produced by the 
females while they are buried a few inches below the surface of 
the sand between tide-marks. Fishermen when tarring the 
seams of their boats, fill a Fulgur with hot tar and use the 
spout-like end of the shell to direct the flow of the tar. Hence 
the local name of ladle-shell. The animals are eaten in large 
quantities by negro fishermen back of Keyport, N. J., which 
locality has been named Winkletown, from the fact that in front 
of each cabin there are large accumulations of empty winkle- 
shells. It is found from Cape Cod to Florida. 

193. THE LITTLE WHELK. {Ilyanassa obsoleta). Lives 
in great numbers on our neighboring coasts and is very useful 
as a scavenger. It deposits its egg-capsules freely on the glass, 
but they never mature there. Hydractinia polyclina often 
covers the shells, which are also the favorites of the small Her- 
mit-crabs. 

194. THE OYSTER-DRILL. {Ur o salpinx cinerea). Next 
to the starfish this shell is the greatest enemy to young oysters 
and clams. It drills a minute hole near the hinge and then 
sucks the animal out. Common on our coast, . 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 7 1 

195. EUPLEURA CAUDATA. Dredged at Wood's Hole. 

Lives well in the tanks. 

196. THE COMMON PURPLE. (Purpura lapillus). Found 
in Buzzard's Bay, Mass., on rocks between tide-marks, feeding 
on barnacles. This shell contains, inside its mantle, a yellow- 
ish-white band, of which a beautiful color is manufactured. 
When exposed to the sun, it quickly gets yellow, then green, 
blue, and at last bluish red. It is one of the shells which fur- 
nished the celebrated Tyrian purple of the ancients. 

197. THE NAVEL-SHELL. (Neverita duplicate!). The 
Hermit-crabs prefer the empty Navel-shells to all others. The 
beautiful flooded sand-cups cast ashore on Coney Island in the 
summer season are the egg-receptacles of this shell; the fish- 
ermen call them mermaid-collars. When placed under a mag- 
nifying-glass thousands of young shells may be seen in their 
sand-bound cells, propelled by their rapidly moving cilia. Many 
of these egg-receptacles have been exhibited in the tanks. 
Massachusetts Bay to Florida. 

198. THE JINGLE-SHELL. (Anomia glabra). Attached 
to oysters, scollops, and other shell-fish. They are resplendent 
with a golden or silvery lustre. 

199. THE BOAT-SHELL. (Crepidula fornicata). This 
small shell is found on other dead shells inhabited by Hermit- 
crabs, or on oysters, scollops, or winkles. Sometimes doz- 
ens of them adhere together, and those lowest in the group 
cling to other animals, empty shells, or pebbles. Their form 
resembles that of a trough or boat half covered by a straight 
piece. It grows an inch in length, and is found in great num- 
bers on gravelly bottoms from Massachusetts to Florida. 

200. THE PILL-BUG SHELL. {Chcetopleura apiculatd). 
The shell of this snail is composed of eight movable plates, 
and has the form of a trough. It is found adhering to stones 
and dead shells, and generally chooses its place so well that the 
surroundings are uniform with its colors, thereby avoiding de- 
tection. When detached from its base it either moves with 
considerable rapidity through the water, or curls itself into a 
ball like a "pill-bug" (Om'scus), or like an Armadillo. Its 
length is six to nine inches. Cape Cod to Florida. 

201. MONTAGUA PILATA. This beautiful mollusk was 
introduced into the tanks on masses of tube-flowers, together 



72 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

with clusters of Vorticellae, on which it fed. At times it may 
be seen moving about freely on the glass. Massachusetts Bay 
to Long Island Sound. 

202. THE SOFT-SHELLED or LONG CLAM. (Mya 
arenarid). Used extensively as food north of New York. It 
is very interesting to see the long, siphon-tubes stretched out, 
sometimes to the length of a foot or more. They easily bury 
by means of it to a considerable depth beneath the sand. South 
Carolina to the Arctic Ocean. 

203. CORBULA CONTRACTA. Found in Gravesend Bay 
and Gowanus Bay, L. I., attached to muscles and tube-flowers. 

204. CLIDIOPHORA TRILINEATA. Dredged at Gay 
Head, Mass. It lives well in a tank. 

205. THE RAZOR-FISH or KNIFE-HANDLE. (En, 

satella americana). This fish inhabits a very long and narrow 
shell, the front and back of which is parallel and slightly curved, 
the surface smooth and yellowish-green. The animal itself is still 
longer than the shell, so that the foot projects on one end, the two 
short siphons on the other. It is found on a sandy bottom 
where the water is clear. There it constructs a burrow of two 
or three feet deep, and rests at the upper end of it, keeping the 
orifices of the siphons in water. Sometimes, owing to the tide, 
it is left behind, projecting one or two inches above the ground. 
If cautiously approached it then may safely be drawn out with a 
sudden jerk, but once out of sight it is safe from capture, being 
able to penetrate the sand quicker than it can be followed. Its 
length is from four to six inches. Labrador to Florida. 

206. THE SEA-, SURF- or SKIMMER-CLAM. (Mactra 
solidissimd). This is a very large shell, sometimes more than 
six inches long and four or five inches broad. The smaller 
ones are well-flavored and extensively used for the dinner 
table. It got the name of Skimmer-clam from the Dutch set- 
tlers, who used to skim the milk with their shells. It lives on 
sandy shores, below low-water mark, from Labrador to North 
Carolina. . 

207. THE ROUND, HARD or QUAHOG-CLAM. {Venus 
mercenaria). Found in enormous quantities on sandy shores, 
but chiefly on sandy and muddy flats, just beyond low-water 
mark- Millions of them are sold in the markets, mostly coming 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 73 

from muddy estuaries and having a rough, thick, dull-white, or 
mud-stained shell; those from sandy shores are thinner, more 
delicate, often with high, thin ribs, especially when young ; some 
varieties are handsomely marked with angular, or zigzag lines 
or streaks of red or brown (var, notata). They are well adapted 
10 bury, having a large, muscular foot with. a broad, thin edge 
that can be moved at any part of the ventral side. Massachu- 
setts Bay to Florida. 

•208. THE IRISH CUAHOG. (Argiria pexata). Dredged 
at Tarpaulin Cove, Mass. It is a beautiful shell with bright 
red gills and mantle. 

209. THE COMMON MUSCLE. (Mytilus edulis). Com- 
mon on all neighboring coasts and sold in the New York and 
Boston markets. It is found attached by means of byssus- 
threads to timber and rocks. In the Baltic Ocean and on the 
French coasts it is extensively cultivated. 

210. MODIOLA MODIOLUS. A handsome muscle, dredged 
at Wood's Hole, Mass. It has the habit of putting out its foot 
and reaching fragments of stones and algae to attach itself. 

211. MODIOLA PLICATULA. Found in neighboring 
creeks in brackish water. It lives well in a tank. 

21-2. MODIOLARIA NIGRA. A large, showy muscle, 
dredged at Cape Cod. The Sea-squirts live on them. 




'HZ 2MC1/VC* fCOHOpR^, 






213. THE SCOLLOP. (Pecten irradians). The shell is 
orbicular, with an angular appendage for the hinge, and about 
twenty rounded ribs, which give it a comb-like appearance. Its 
color is varying, mostly dusky horn, with white, yellowish, or 
reddish bands, very pleasing to the eye, and making the shell 
of use for ornamental purposes. 



74 NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 

-A peculiar feature of the Scollop is its dancing movement 
when alarmed. This is performed by opening and energetically 
closing its valves ; and continuing these movements, and thus 
periodically expelling the water from the gill-cavity, it is 
sent upwards or along the surface of the water. When it rests 
in safety, it sends out two rows of numerous, tapering papillae, 
or tentacles, and between them there may be observed a num- 
ber of handsome, bright silvery, or bluish eyes, sparkling with 
a brilliancy equal to the brightest jewels. The Scollop is 
found in abundance in many localities, particularly in sheltered, 
muddy places, from Cape Cod to Florida. The large and pow- 
erful central muscle is sold in the markets, and considered by 
many persons as an excellent article of food. 



Tunicata. 

214. MOLGULA MANHATTENSIS. Found in Graves- 
end Bay attached to ulva. It lives well in confinement, even 
in self-supporting tanks. 

215. BOTRYLLUS GOULDII. A beautiful and interest- 
ing creature, found in Gravesend Bay, growing on Zostera 
marina. It lives well in confinement. 



ECHINODERMATA. 



216. STRONGYLOCENTROTUS DROBACHIENSIS. 

Common in deep water ; does not live well in a tank. 

217. THE PURPLE SEA-URCHIN. (Arbacia punctu- 
lata). A small species with rather stout and long purplish 
spines placed upon a hard, rounded shell composed of many 
plates. It moves, like a star-fish, by suckers which protrude 
through small holes in the shell. The mouth, situated in the 
center of the lower side, has five very large, hard teeth con- 
nected with a peculiar organ resembling a fancy lantern called 
the lantern of Aristotle. It feeds upon vegetables, such as dia- 
toms and other small algae ; but is also fond of dead fishes, 
which it devours bones and all. It is found from Vineyard 
Sound to the West Indies. 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



75 



218. THE SAND DOLLAR. {Echinarachnins parma). 
Found on sandy bottoms around Long Island. It lived a short 
time in our tanks. 




219. THE GREEN STAR-FISH. {Asterias arenicold). 
As in most of the other Echinoderms the different parts of its 
body are repeated five times. It has five arms, and five times 
four rows of sucking-feet in their inferior furrows. It has five 
eyes, situated at the tips of the arms. Its nervous system con- 
sists of five longitudinal strings, connected in a ring round the 
central mouth, and there are five lines of blood-vessels, and an 
equal number of intestines and ovaries. 

, This Star-fish is found in large numbers among the rocks at 
the bottom of the sea, especially where shell-fish, on which it 
feeds, are abundant. It is very destructive to oyster-beds, 
clinging to the oyster with its suckers somewhat after the man- 



76 NEW YORK AQUARIUM". 

ner of the Octopus. Its mode of eating is singular. Covering 
the soft parts of whatever is selected for its food, it turns the 
digestive sac inside out, and proceeds at leisure to suck the ani- 
mal from its shell. The color of this species is dark brownish 
green, with a small orange disk near the center of the upper 
side. Its diameter is about five inches. It is found from Mas- 
sachusetts Bay to Florida. 

220. THE GIGANTIC STAR-FISH. (Oreaster gigas). 
A large and splendid animal. Its orange-colored body is high 
in the center, and its surface is covered with prominent warts. 
Further, there are numerous small pores, through which short, 
slender, transparent tubes stick out, acting as respiratory 
organs. Our specimens came from Florida. 



ACALEPHiE. 

221. THE TUBE-FLOWERS. (Eudcndrium dispar and 
ramosuni). These are colonies of little polyps of a plant-like 
appearance. The individuals occupy the ends of the branches. 
When examined closely with a magnifying-glass, they are found 
to possess two circles of slender, transparent tentacles. By 
means of poisonous lasso-cells they kill small animals, take 
them into a cavity below the center of the tentacles, and send 
the nutritious matter through the whole colony. Sometimes 
small buds are seen at the base of the exterior tentacles ; these 
are young ones, who soon detach themselves, swim around a 
short while, and at last settle on stones to give origin to new 
colonies. 



Polyps or Anthozoa. 



Cylindrical animals with an opening (the mouth) in the center of the 
tipper end. This mouth is surrounded by six, eight, or many more hol- 
low tentacles which are used to seize the food. As soon as the food 
reaches the mouth, it is pressed down into a central, longitudinal bag, 
or tube (the stomach), where it is retained and digested. This having 
been completed the nutritious matter passes through the lower, open end 
of the stomach into the cavity of the body and thence upwards into the 
space between the walls of the stomach and body. This space is divided 
by radiating partitions into many longitudinal sections or tubes, which 
continue into the hollow of one or several tentacles. The nutritious 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



77 



matter can, as it will easily be understood, reach the summit of every 
tentacle. 

The Polyps either live singly or in colonies, in which latter case they 
form the coral reefs. Tha former are larger, but both display a won- 
drous beauty ot form and color. 




THE FRINGED SEA-ANEMONE. 

222, THE FRINGED SEA-ANEMONE. (Metridium mar- 
ginatum). This is the most common among the Polyps of Nortli 
America. It is easily distinguished by the soft, plumy, tentacu- 
lar fringes that surround the disk. When contracted, it looks like 
a mere lump of brownish or whitish jelly, but when expanded 
and erect it shows such grace and beauty as to attract general 
attention. " From the extended base," says Prof. Verrill, " the 
body rises in the form of a tall, smooth column, sometimes 
cylindrical, sometimes tapering slightly to the middle, and then 
enlarging to the summit. Toward the top the column is sur- 
rounded by a circular, thickened fold, above which the charac- 
ter of the surface suddenly changes, the skin becoming thinner 
and translucent, so that the internal radiating partitions are 
visible through it. This part expands upward and outward to 
the margin, which is folded into numerous deep undulations or 
frills, and everywhere covered with very numerous, fine, short, 
crowded tentacles." Its color varies from pure white through 
yellow, orange, and pink to dark brown. 



78 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 



When a Sea-anemone slowly glides along the surface of a 
rock or glass wall, it often leaves small particles of its body be- 
hind. These generally assume the form of warts, and in about 
eight days send out very thin and transparent tentacles. Be- 
sides this manner of reproduction the Sea-anemone propagates 
by division or through eggs. 

223. THE WHITE-ARMED ANEMONE. {SagarHa 

leucolena). A small species, with a slender, pale flesh-colored, 
translucent, and usually whitish body, with numerous tentacles. 
Cape Cod to North Carolina. 




224. THE STOUT-ARMED ANIMAL FLOWER. (Telia 

crassicornis). This is the largest and brightest of the North 
American Polyps. It is found also on the European coasts. Its 
body and disk (the flat upper end of the animal) is beautifully 
marked with red or brown stripes, between which the stout 
tentacles arise. It feeds on muscles and small fishes, and 
sometimes attacks animals which are too vigorous to remain 
its victim. If the body suddenly contracts, the water is ejected 
through small openings at the tip of its tentacles. Sometimes 
a white, folded skin is seen on top of its disk ; this is the 
stomach thrown out in order to be emptied and cleaned. 

2'25. THE BERMUDA ANEMONES. There are three 
species of them in the Aquarium not yet identified. One of 



NEW YORK AQUARIUM. 79 

them is small, and dark purplish red; the second has a grayish 
white body covered with red warts, the tentacles being light 
colored with red tips ; the third is translucent so as to show the 
internal, radiating partitions very clearly, and has short tenta- 
cles forming a beautiful fringe around the large disk. 



220. THE NEW ENGLAND CORAL. {Astrangia Danes). 
This in the only true coral yet discovered on the coast of New 
England. Its colonies, which are found clinging to little frag- 
ments of rocks in sheltered creeks and inlets, consist of a 
small number of comparatively large individuals, each about 
two-thirds of an inch in height. They are whitish and translu- 
cent ; their tentacles are thickly covered with small warts con- 
sisting of clusters of lasso-cells. The interior of a lasso-cell 
consists of a kind of poisonous fluid and a long, coiled-up 
bristle, which darts out and, with its numerous sharp points and 
hooks, fastens itself to such small worms or crustaceans as 
are within reach. The lime secreted by them is only found at 
the base of the animal, and consists of a disk, with interior, 
radiating, low walls, the production of the fleshy base and par- 
titions. 



Sponges. 

227. THE RED SPONGE. (Microciona prolifera). A 
beautiful, dark red, or orange red species, which, when young, 
incrusts the surface of stones and shells, but at a later period 
rises to irregular lobes with many repeatedly divided, slender 
branches. It consists of stout horny fibres radiating from the 
center to the periphery, and terminating in irregular papillae, 
which are the bearers of spiculae. Cape Cod to South Carolina. 



GRAND SQUARE AND UPRIGHT 

fia: 



Hear what 

NILSSON. 
KELLOGG. 
PATTI. 
OARY. 

LUCCA. 
MURSKA. 

CARRENO. 

STRAUSS. 

CAMPANINI 

WEHLI. 

MILLS. 
MUZIO. 
BRISTOW. 



the Great Artists and Musicians 
say of them. 

I shall take every opportunity to recommend and 
praise your instruments. 

For the last six years your Pianos have been my 
choice for the Concert Room and my own house. 

I have used the Pianos of every celebrated maker, 

but GIVE YOURS THE PREFERENCE OVER ALL. 

I feel that every one is fortunate who owns a 
Weber Piano, because of its rich and sympathetic 
quality of tone. 

Your Uprights are extraordinary instruments, and 
deserve their great success. 

Your instruments surpass my expectations, and I 
rankyou justly as the foremost manufactu- 
rer OF THE DAY. 

I am not Surprised that every great artist prefers 
the Weber Pianos ; they are truly " noble " in- 
struments, and " meet every requirement of the 
most exacting artist." 

Your Pianos astonish me ; I assure you that I 
have never yet seen any Pianos which equal 
yours. 

The Weber Pianos sustain the voice in a wonder- 
ful degree, and they have my unqualified ad- 
miration. 

Mme. Parepa called your Pianos the finest in the 
United States. I " fully endorse " that opinion. 
They have no " rival anywhere." 

Amongst the many excellent Pianos made in the 

citv, the Weber ranks foremost. 
I consider the Weber Pianos the best Pianos in 

THE WORLD. 

To me the Weber Piano contains every thing that 
can be wished for in an instrument. 



WAREROOMS, 

Fifth Avenue and Sixteenth Street, 



80 



INDEX. 



NO. 

Alligator 17 

Anemonae 220-223 

Angel-fish 53~55 

Long Island 74 

Angler 79 

Architeuthis 189 

Axolotl 23 

Balloox-fish 14 1 

Barnacle 180 

Bass, Black Fresh-water. . $ 41 

" Black Sea 34 

l> Fresh-water 40 

" Red 67 

- ' Striped 32 

Bellows-fish 79 

Bergall 9° 

Black-fish 89 

Blind-fish 115 

Blow-fish 139 

Blue-fish 76 

Boat-shell 199 

Botryll.is 215 

Carp 118 

Cat-fishes 102-105 

Chubsucker 117 

Clam 202, 206, 207 

Clidiophora 204 

Clinker 187 

Cod-fish 92 

Codling 96, 97 

Conger-eel 83 

Coral 224 

Corbula 203 

Coui 8 

Cow-fish 137 

Cow-pilot 87 

Crabs 159-167 

Cramp-fish 150 

Craw-fish 169, 170 

Cuahog, Irish 208 

Cuckold 138 

Cunner 90 

Dace 112-114 

Devil-fish 188, 189 

Doctor-fish 84 

Dog-fish, Fresh-water 142 

" picked 149 

smooth 147 

Dollar-fish 71 



NO. 

Dolphin 4 

Drum-fish 64 

Eel 129 

Eel-pout 83 

Euchore 186 

Eupleura 195 

File-Fish i35 _1 36 

Fishing-frog 79 

Flasher 47 

Flounder 99 

Flying Robin 63 

Four-eyed fish 52 

Frog, horned 18 

Gar-pike 143 

Ghost-fish 82 

Glass-snake 19 

Gold-fish 119 

Goose Barnacle 181 

Goose-fish 79 

Gourami.... . . .- 85 

Grouper 35 

Grunt 43-45 

Gurnard 61-62 

Haddock 94 

Hamlet 35 

Harvest-fish 71 

Hellbender ... 24 

Hermit-crab 166, 167 

Hind 36 

Hippopotamus 1 

Hog-fish 88 

Horse-crevalle" 72 

Horse-fish 75 

Horse-shoe Crab : 182 

Idotea 177 

Jingle-shell 198 

Killi-fish 65 

King-crab 182 

King-fish 65 

Kingiyo 120 

Lafayette-fish 66 

Lamper-eel 83 

Lamprey.. 157,158 

Lepidonotis 183 

(Si) 



82 



INDEX. 



NO. 

Lerneolema , 179 

Livoneca 178 

Lobster 168 

" flat 172 

14 spiny 171 

Locust-crab 176 

Maray 130, 131 

Margate-fish 46 

Modiola 210, 211 

Modiolaria 212 

Molgula 214 

Monkey-fish 75 

Monk-fish 79 

Montagua 201 

Moor-fish 56 

Mossbonker. 127 

Mud Puppy 26 

Mullet 86 

Muscle 209 

Muskallunge no 

Navel-shell 197 

Nereis 184 

Octopus 188 

Oyster-drill 194 

Perch 31 

Pickerel 111 

Pike ... 109-112 

" Wall-eyed 33 

Pill-bug shell 200 

Pilot-fish 69 

Pipe-fish 132 

Pollock 95 

Porcupine-fish ..." 140 

Porgee 50, 51 

Potamilla 185 

Prawn 175 

Proteus 25, 26 

Puffer 139 

Purple 196 

Ray i5°-i5 6 

Razor-fish 205 

Remora 7° 

River-horse 1 

Roach 123 

Rock-fish 37 

Rudder-fish 77 

Rusty Dab 100 

Salamander 20-22 

Salmon 108 

Sand-dollar ... 218 

Sargo 5° 

Scheltopusik 19 

Scollop 213 



NO. 

Sculpin. 57-59 

Sea-devil 79 

Sea-horse 133 

Sea-raven 57 

Sea-robin 61 

Sea-urchin 216-218 

Sea-w'olf. 81 

Seal 2,3 

Sergeant-major 87 

Serpula 187 

Shad 128 

Shark 146--149 

Sheepshead 49 

Sheepshead Lebias 113 

Shiner 126 

Shrimp 173-175 

Silver-bream 48 

Skate.. 150-156 

Slippery Dick gj 

Snapper 39 

Sole 101 

Sponge 225 

Squeteague 68 

Squirrel 30 

Star-fish , . — 219, 220 

Stickleback 27-29 

Stink-pot •. 18 

Strongylocentrus 216 

Stumpfoot 19 

Sturgeon 144, 145 

Sucker 116 

Sucker-fish 70 

Sun-fish 42 

Tautog. . - 89 

Telescopic-fish 121 

Tench 125 

Terrapin n 

Thread-fish 74 

Toad-fish 78 

Tom-cod 93 

Tortoise 7-14 

Triangular Fish 138 

Triple-tail 47 

Trout 106, 107 

Turbot, Bermuda 134 

" spotted q3 

Tube-flower 219 

Turtle 12-16 

Walking-fish 80 

Weak-fish 68 

Whelk 190,193 

White Whale 6 

Winkle 191,192 

Wry-mouth ." 82 

Yellow Mackerel 73 

Yellow-tail 38 



Publisher's Department. 



THE AQUARIUM GUIDE. 

The Publishers of the Aquarium Guide 
take pleasure in calling the attention of its 
thousands of readers to the announcements 
contained in this department. Messrs, Chas. 
Reiche & Bro., the proprietors of the New 
York Aquarium, with the efficient aid 
of Dr. Dorner, and the assistance of many 
artists, have made the Guide book not only 
invaluable to every visitor to the Great New 
York Aquarium, but of such permanent val- 
ue as to make it of lasting interest to every 
lover of nature. 

It is the purpose of the Publishers to 
have this department in keeping with the 
whole book. 

Only approved advertisements will be 
admitted, and the representations concern- 
ing advertisers may be relied upon as being 
strictly truthful. 

The Publishers thus hope to realize their 
aim, which is to make this department of 
the Aquarium Guide of real service to the 
many thousands whom they are privileged 
to address. 

CONTRIBUTORS. 

Every advertiser may be regarded as a 
contributor whose " article " will be wor- 
thy of careful attention. Among these 
contributors are many of the best business 
concerns in New York. 



WEBER PIANOS. 

After what has been said by the famous 
artists quoted on page 80, in praise of these 
instruments, we can only recommend pus- 
chasers to profit by their judgment and 
experience. 



Brown's ''Perfect}" Letter File, 

Self-Indexing and Self-Binding, is un- 
doubtedly the simplest and best thing of 
the kind, and the only one suitable far 
library use or private correspondence. Tlie 
trade supplied by D. I. Carson & Co., 100 
Nassau Street. 



THE TEACHER'S BIBLE. 

We know the purchaser of one of these 
elegant Bibles will never be disappointed 
in any respect. 

They are all they are represented to be» 
See page 90. 



PLATE GLASS 



ATTENTION 

Will inevitably be attracted to what the 
following houses have to say to our readers 



TIFFANY & CO. 

For elegance in design, beauty of work- 
manship, and fineness in quality, the goods 
of this famous house have a world wide 
reputation. What they have to say on 
page 8 will interest our readers. 



Should be bought of thoroughly reliable 
houses, such as the one sej; forth on pagse 
89. The fact that they are patronized by 
the proprietors of the Aquarium is a strong 
recommendation . 



CHROMATIC CRYSTAL SIGNS. 

These are emphatically and literally 
"signs of the times," and are a necessity 
to every business man. 

Messrs. D. I. Carson will furnish them 
in every variety, as announced on page 8j» 



83 



<x. GUNTHER. REICHE & BRO. 

The name of Gunther has long been as- One of the most enterprising and famous 

sociated with the manufacture of bird establishments of its kind in the United 

cages. His display of stock in this line is States, the house of Rieche &Bro. The 

worthy of inspection. Advertisement on whole world is tributary to their immense 

page 6. business : and the record of their various 

transactions would read like romance. The 

W. H. BROWNING. Great New York Aquarium is but one of 

. ,-,, u li -v. t - r their great enterDrises. Information re- 

vve would call the attention 01 contract- ° 

, , .. , ., j r ,, r gardmg others will be found on last pa^e 

ors and builders to the advertisement of YY. r ° r ° 

TT _, of cover. 
H. Browning on page 5. 

— B. GREENWOOD. 

W. Hi GrlFFING". Many of the visitors to the Acquarium 

Torrv Bros..the well known poster, show wiU desire to adorn their homes with P ri " 
bill and general printers, have been sue- vate a q uaria - Everything necessary to 
'ceeded by Mr. W. H. Giffing, whose ad- this end ma ? be found at Greenwood's 
vertisement will be found on page 88. Advertisement page 3. 

— R0SS1TUR & SK1DM0RE. 

SIEBRECHT k WADLEY. " At once delicate and substantial " is 

All lovers of flowers (and we take it for the verdict re g ardi »g the prepared meats 
t j ., ■ -. . ., offered by this enterprising house. We 

granted that means every visitor to the J r & 

A . , ,, , , . , ■ ,■ have tried them, and know whereof we af- 

Aqaarium) should take their earliest op- 

.... . .,,, , j. , n 1 » i firm. Advertisement second pa?e of cover. 

portunity to visit the splendid floral estab- r fa 

lishment advertised on page I. -. . -- « . - 

F Osborn Manufacturing Co. 

MTTTtfTtf X- FC\ - ^ s an exam pl e OI " wnat can be accom- 

plished by good business talent, combined 
The advertisement of the long establish-!^ courteous and fair dealing, this con- 
ed house of Munn & Co.. Publishers of the cem may serye as a model tQ younger 
Scientific American, will be found on | houses Their delightful bird cages, which 
page 07. .. have received high awards, are advertised 



E. REMINGTON & SONS. 



on page 4. 



WILKINS. 



Remington's gifns helped Osman Pasha 

,-,.-, .j ■ ,. 4.x, -D ' ; Abiiou bird paradise," is a fit term 

to make his brave stand against the Rus- f *_ * 



„,, j .- , . with which to describe the aviary of Wil- 

The guns advertised on page 1 ... 

.,, , «- j • 4.1. -• i 11 kins. It is worthv of a visit, and is verv 

will be found — m their place — equally 3 ' 



sians 

will - 

. , near the Aquarium. See pa<;e go 

serviceable. ^ r ° y 



PHOTO-ELECTROTYPE CO. 



D. 1. CARSON & CO. 

Book buyers, authors, and those who de- 
Process Engraving has lately been 5ire to have printing, engraving . &c, done 
brought to great perfection, and the above m a satisfactory manner, or who wish to 
Company shows some excellent specimens make p Urc hases in the line of stationer's 
of work, at greatly reduced prices. See, g00( i s should read the advertisement on 
page 2. third page of cover. 

84 



Chromatic Crystal Signs 

D. I. CARSON & CO., 100 NASSAU STREET, 

NEW YORK. 

Are Manufacturers' Agents for the above good?, and would call especial 
attention to their unrivalled facilities for supplying 

LIGHT AND ELEGANT SIGNS 

FOR 

STORES, 

SHOW WIXTEOWS, 
ni^SICIilXTS, 
iDEXTTISTS, 

LAWYERS, 

NOTARIES, &c- 

T \iese signs are made in every conceivable variety, from plain Gold 
1 .1 Plate Glass to most ornate and artistic combinations in colors, and 
are the most perfect thing of the kind ever made. 



A WORD OF ADVICE. 

These Signs, unlike those painted on windows and doors, can he. 
removed, and are far more attractive. 

To secure them is to SAVE MONEY. 

Send for Prices. 

D. I. CARSON & CO., 

100 Nassau Street. 
85 



THE 



Aquarium is Lighted 



BY THE 



Municipal Gas Light Co. 



OFFICE, 



No. 952 BROADWAY, 



Near 23d Street. 

86 



THE 

Scientific American. 

THIRTY-THIRD YEAR. 

THE MOST POPULAR SCIENTIFIC PAPER IN THE WORLD. 

Only $3.20 a Year, including Postage. Weekly. 52 Numbers 
a Year. 4,000 book pagee. 

.— o — • ■ 

The Scientific American is a large First Class Weekly Newspaper 
of sixteen pages, printed in the most beautiful style, profusely illustrated 
iviih splendid engravings, representing the newest Inventions and the 
most recent Advances in the Arts and Sciences; including Mechanics 
and Engineering, Steam Engineering, Railway, Mining, Civil, Gas and 
Hydraulic Engineering, Mill Work, Iron, Steel and Metal Works ; 
Chemistrv and Chemical Processes : Electricity, Light, Heat, Sound : 
Technology, Photography, Printing, New Machinery, New Processes, 
New Receipes, Improvements pertaining to Textile Industry, Weaving, 
Dyeing, Coloring, New Industrial Products. Animal, Vegetable, and 
Mineral: New and Interesting Facts in Agriculture, Horticulture, the 
Home, Natural History, etc. 

The most valuable practical papers, by eminent writers in all depart- 
ments of Science, will be found in the Scientific American ; the whole 
presented in popular language, free from technical terms, illustrated 
with engravings, and so arranged as to interest and inform all classes of 
readers, old and young. The Scientific American is promotive of knowl- 
edge and progress in every community where it circulates. It should 
have a place in every Family, Reading Room, Library, College or 
School. Terms, $3.20 per year, $1.60 half year, which includes pre- 
payment of postage. Discount to Clubs and Agents. Single copies 
ten cents. Sold by all Newsdealers. Remit by postal order to MUNN 
& CO., Publishers, 37 Park Row, New York. 

D A TF NT^ * n connect i° n w i tn the Scientific Ameri- 
»'i/£-/»/0. can, Messrs. Munn&Co. are Solicitors of Amer- 
ican and Foreign Patents, and have the largest establishment in the 
world. Patents are obtained on the best terms. Models of New Inven- 
ticns and Sketches examined, and advice free. A special notice is 
made in the Scientific American of all Inventions Patented 
through this Agency, with the name and residence of the Patentee. 
Public attention is thus directed to the merits of the new patent, and 
sales often effected. 

Any person who has made a new discovery or invention can ascer- 
tain, free of Charge, whether a patent can probably be obtained, by 
writing to the undersigned. Address for the Paper, or concerning 
Patents 

' MUNN & CO., 37 Park Row, New York. 

Branch Office, Cor, F & 7th Sts,, Washington, D. C. 

87 



Empire Steam Printing Establishment, 
13 SPRUCE STREET, NEW YORK. 

W. H. GIFFIN G, 

(Successor to TORRE Y BR O THERS. ) 

C MM H B C IAJL 



A>T> 



Exhibition Printin 



OF EVERY DESCRIPTION. 

In a Diversity of Colors and Tints, at a Small Advance over 
ordinary plain Black Work. 



Job Printing 

OF ALL KINDS, SUCH AS 

Cards, Invitations, Law Cases, 

Bill Heads, Programmes, Pamphlets, 

Circulars, -Hand -hills- Catalogues. 



In the Best Style of the Art, at short notice and reasonable 

Prices. 

88 



kJP 




tCNT 




jheste: 



PLATE CLASS COMPANY, 

LIMITED, 

_ ftT ,-. I SUTTON and ST. HELENS, LANCASHIEE, Address P. 0. BOX 

WUi "^' } RAVENHEAD. ENGLAND. 4140. 

Depot, 94 Maiden Lane, 

J. A. WALLER, JR, Agent. ITEW-YORZ, 
Nlanufadttu'ei^ of tl\e Celebrated 

British Polished Plate ©ass, 

ALSO, 

Looking Glass Plates, 



^m*m 



J5Wv . a^^ v«'™y' 






13 

Of Special Thickness from | to i inch thick. 

Chequered and Ground Plate, 

Rough and Ribbed Plate, 

For FLOORS and SKYLIGHTS, in all thicknesses 
at lowest market prices. 

BSTMMTVt PMMI8HBQ OJtf MPPkimTlM. 



THE PLATE CLASS USED 

in the Tanks of the 



WAS 



MANUFACTURED BY THIS COMPANY. 



89 



REASONS WHY 

You should Buy the " TEACHER'S BIBLE,'' issued by the 

American Tract Society. 

OUR SHEETS are printed from the best plates abroad. The 
Berean Question Book for 1878 adopts the references of our "Large 
Print " edition, in preference to any other. 

OUR HELPS' are more complete, and more useful for the teacher 
than any other issued so far as we know. 

OUR MAPS are all new, redrawn within a year, and brought down 
to the latest authorities. 

OUR BINDINGS are unsurpassed by any in the world. We in- 
vite critical comparison and examination. 

OUR LEVANT BINDINGS are all full flexible, and will open 
so the sides of the back will touch without injuring them. 

OUR PRICES are as low as books honestly made can be sold. 

OUR PRICES are uniform, and we do not make a discount to one 
man and deny it to another, but treat all alike. 

OUR BOOKS are commended by such men as Vincent, Trumbull, 
Sherwin, Gracey, and everybody else that has ever used them. 

CIRCULARS AND SPECIMEN PAGES FREE. 

AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 

ISO 2Ta.ssa.-u St., ITew Yorlc- 



I A carefully selected stock of 
fine Singing Canaries, Whistling 
Bullfinches, Trained Starlings, 
Fancy Birds of all kinds for the 
Aviary, Talking Parrots, Pet 
Animals, Gold Fish, Sea Shells, . 
Aquaria, *&c. Also the best 
and largest assortment of Cages 
in the city. Seeds and Mocking 
Bird Food ; also Cage Fixtures 
of all kinds at WILKINS', 1247 
Broadway, between 30th and 
31st Streets, New York. 



1 




90 



n 




i raw 



4k 




B» 



>• 



SIEBRECHT <6 WADLEY, 

Floral Decorators, Nurserymen and 
Landscape Gardeners, 

409 Fifth Avenue cor, 37th St., New York, 
NURSERIES AT ASTORIA, L I. 



Send for oiar BOOK J'-ost P-u.blish.ed- 

A guide fo: all wl.o love Flowers and Plants. Copies will be sent 
on application, free of charge. 



REMINGTON'S 

BREECH-LOADING, DOUBLE-BARRELED GUST. 




DECARBONIZED STEEL BARRELS. 
TWIST " 

" FINE 

LAMINATED 
DAMASCUS 
Finer grades in proportion. 



$+5 
50 
60 

7.") 
85 

I-rom Rod and Gun, Nov. 1876. 

THE REMINGTON GUN. 

Judge H. A. Gildersleeve, of the American Rifle Teams, 1874, 1875 and 1876, Lieut. Col. 12th 
Regt., writes thus under date of Nov 10th : 

" I have just returned from the Big South Bay, where I have been gunning for ducks. I trie3 
for the first time the Remington, 10 gauge gun, I purchased from you last summer. My success with 
it was excellent. In my judgment its shooting capacity cannot be surpassed. I want no better gun 
and if I did I don't believe I could find it, even among the expensive grades of English guns. 

H. A. GILDERSLEEVE. 

Manufactured by E. REMINGTON & SONS, 281 and 283 Broadway, New York. P. O. Bok 
3994. Armo-y, Ilion. H. Y. Chicago, 237 State St.; Boston, 146 Tremont St.; St. Louis, 609 North 
Fourth St.; Baltimore, 47 North Charles St.; Washington, 808 F St. Send for " Illustrates Cata- 
logue and lY^atise on Ri'le £ 

REMINGTON SPORTING RIFLE REDUCED TO $20 AND UPWARDS. 



Photo-Electrotypin 

Is the name of a new process of engraving by means of ^photog- 
raphy. It is entirely different from all other methods of photo- 
engraving — superior to wood engraving in point of depth ; and 
in many instances fully equal to steel and 
copper plate work. We can repro- 
duce music and small type cheap - 
er than it can be set up. Music 
publishers can make a great 
saving in printing by 
having their litho- 
graph title pa- 
ges of music 
reproduced 
and > 

printed 
by lett er 
press. Ex- 
perts can not dis- 
cover any diffe rence 
between them and those 
printed from stone. Man- 
ufacturers who issue cata- 
logues can also make a great saving, by reducing the size one- 
half, which can be done at small expense, thereby enabling 
them to issue a book which is novel in itself, equally as reada- 
ble, and for one-half the cost. 

2 





REEMWOOB 



9 



Manufacturer of 



Aquaria and Aquarium and 
Greenhouse Cement. 

DEALER IN 

Sqiicii'itiir) $todk of kll de^crieptioi^. 

Canaries, Cages, Hanging Baskets,. Brackets, Sea 

Shells, Corals, &c. 

Also Marine Stock of all kinds, such as Sea 
Anemones, Serpulae, Crabs, Shrimps, 
al^vays on hand. 

Uos- 111 -bo 13 COLLEGE PLACE, 
Near Murray Street, 



■»*' 



OSBORN MANUFACTURING CO. 

VS BLEECHER ST., XT. "Z- 




B right Metal Bird and Animal Cages. 




Illustrated Catalogues and Price List, with Directions for the Care 
of Birds, sent free on application. 
these cages are sold by all first class dealers. 

Cages Refinished at Short Notice. 



W. H. BROWNING, 



f 



Makes a Specialty in Ornamental and Plain 

Cement Work. 



DOES ALSO 



ALL KINDS OF MASON WORK 



-In the most substantial manner, giving a 
guarantee of perfect satisfaction 
in every case. 

THE SPLENDID 

Tanks of the Neuu York Aquarium 

Were built under his personal superintendenc e 
and he refers to the Architect of the 
Aquarium, 

A. B. OGDEN, Esq., and to Messrs. W. C. COUP and CHA8. 
REICHE & BR9. as to his ability and upright- 
ness as a practical Builder and 
Contractor. 



Office 443 East 77th St. 

5 



rr 



§ 




«i 



is 



imSS 



Manufacturer of Patented 

^-PLATED & JAPAMHSB 






BIBD QAG3E 

.Established 1848. 




1876. 

Medal & Diploma Awarded 
10 

Go £f xriith 81°=, 

For Good Workmanship. Variey of Patterns, and 
fitness for purpose intended. (Signed by the Jurors 

and Centennial Commission.) 

103 &. m WILLIAM ST., H. Y. 

6 







Salmon Factor, 

j>i§|, ]$«, (Jraii|iirti(, |»il|riili^|tm|iiii§, 



72, 73, 74, 73, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84 & 88 Fulton Market, 

STOREHOUSES, 

134 BEEKMAi^ & 223 FRONT STREET, NEW YOKK. 



SPECIALTIES. 

Diamond Sa.cls Tarrapin, Greezi THir-ble, 

Res-fcigcuLclie Salmon, Hrcols Tro"ui*b,- 
Xji^re Eels., 

And all kinds of rare fish constantly on. hand at all seasons. 

RESTIGOUCHE SALMON. 

This is the best flavored Salmon in the world, and I beg leave to inform my nume- 
rous patrons that I have contracted to take the entire catch of the estuary fishing on 
the Restigouche River, and shall receive daily consignments by special Refrigerator 
cars, by which fresh Salmon will be landed in New York 48 hours after they are 
taken from the nets. These fish were first put upon the market and introduced to 
public notice by me during the summer of 1876, and by epicures were pronounced 
the finest Salmon in the world. 

BUGEUE G- BLACSFORD, 

Received the Highest Award and Medal of Honor for the finest and 
largest exhibit of Live Fish in tanks, also for the largest and best dis- 
play of Food Fishes preserved in Patent Refrigerators. 

Report of Judges : 

The undersigned, having examined the product herein described, respectfully 
recommends the same to the United States Centennial Commission for Award, for 
the following reasons, viz : tT"'!^ 

For Collection of Live Fish in Aquaria, and for a very general exhibit of almost 
all the edible fisk found on the Atlantic Coast, with specimens from the Pacific, and 
from the Rivers and Lakes of the United States . For keen interest taken by Mr. 
Eugene G. Blackford in American Fishes, and assistance rendered by him in the 
study of Ichylhology. J. ANDKRSON {Signature of the Judge. ] 

APPROVAL OF GROUP JUDGES.. 

S. F. BAIRD. T. B. FERGUSON. 

,, ,., , I FRANCIS A. WALKER, 

A tme copy of tie reccrd, - nj ■ r } ., D * a j 

VJ ' j thief of the Bureau of Awards*. 

r . , fl ., ,,,„., , ( J. L CAMPBELL. Secretary. 

Given bv a' th >rstvof U e Uniteci \\ P rnL-imi.M >->• , r* 7 

,.;, ,, : • , n ■ ■ A. 1. (jOSiTORN. Director General... 

States Centennial Comm ssion. \ , „ T t%\a-i tv D • j t 

f J . R. HAW I.1A . President. 



Messrs. Tiffany & Co. 

UNION SQUARE, NEW YORK, 

Invite an inspection of their 

Stock of Diamonds 

And other Precious Stones^ 

Household Silverware, 

Artistic Bronzes and Pottery, 

FINE STATIONERY, 

Watches, General Jewelry, 

BRIC-A-BRAC, 

Electro ' d lated Ware 

TABLE CUTLERY: 

" ~ ;~ \ 

Visitors incur no obligation to purchase. 

8 






Wfy jSLMjFiiFuni JPuhlisljing IjfonsF. 

D. X. CARSON & €©*„ 

100 Nassau Street, New York. 

Announcement for 1878. 

In addition to our own publications, we propose to continue 
our Order business; and all Standard Publications, American and 
Foreign, will be furnished upon short notice, post free, at pub- 
lishers' prices. We are frequently able to fili orders from job lots 
or slightly used books, at Special Discounts. 

Authors and others desiring to publish Books, Monographs 
or Pamphlets, will find it to their advantage to call. 

jS^JFiiFuin printing Mwte. 

This department of our business will hereafter be under the 
special direction of Mr. D. I. Carson, for several years and until 
recently General Agent of the Photo-Engraving Company. We 
are prepared to undertake every variety of Printing, Engraving 
and Lithographing, at moderate prices. We employ skilled work- 
men and can execute the finest work. 

J&tafionprg j^tparlmraf. 

We are prepared to furnish everything in the line of Sta- 
tioners' Goods, and make a specialty of Wedding Stationery, 
Visiting and Note Cards. We also furnish Fine Papeteries 
with Monograms to order in Water Colors put on by hand, 
something: new and elegant. We are also sole Eastern Agents for 
Brown's "Perfect" Letter File, the best in use. 
Address Orders and Inquiries to, 

D. f. CARSON & CO., 

too Nassau Street 



CHAS. SEICHE & BRO., 



SB CHATHAM STREET, N. Y., 
AndAlfeld, Hanover, Germany. 



BAftg mm® Aim miwM 



Singing Birds, and 

Birds of Beautiful Plumage. 



FOREIGN ANIMALS OF EVERY KIND FROM ALL PARTS 

OF THE WORLD. 



Orders received to procure any kind of living bird or animal. 



GOODS SHIPPED TO ALL PARTS. 






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